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Are these people really British?

237 replies

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 14:07

In 1688, foreign strangers were arriving on British shores daily. The locals complained of despoilment of their environment. Londoners complained that French was everywhere, and not a word of English could be heard spoken! The French immigrants were denigrated either for being too poor, thus a drain on rate-paying parishioners, or too prosperous, at the expense of local merchants and business owners.

(Taken from Thou Savage Woman by Blessin Adams, great book!)

That sounds exactly like what I hear the media saying about immigrants now! So when the far right are making sure that Britain is for the British, shall they make sure we all trace our lineage back to the 1600s, and make sure no descendents of those awful French immigrants count as British?

OP posts:
glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:13

smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 17:09

I'll contribute to any thread I like thanks. Referring to some time way back to try to persuade (or virtue signal) that migration is an amazing and wonderful thing is either woefully naïve or disingenuous.

Funny how it's only the western world that's having this thrust upon us. I know the background story, but most others don't. I don't like people being led up the garden path.

So you support Restore and Rupert Lowe then? Because those are the only things I've openly criticised on this thread

Personally I think that making up an OP's intention is disingenuous

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 17:12

Hyperion100 · 21/07/2026 17:11

The truth is ugly eh!

Not as half as ugly as it's going to get, but somehow I doubt people will care. Too busy watching slop on TV to notice what's happening.

Hyperion100 · 21/07/2026 17:11

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:09

undocumented, unknowable's being imported en mass

Ew

The truth is ugly eh!

PaddlerRock · 21/07/2026 17:11

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 16:23

The origins of current arrivals?

Because French people are (more often) white?

I think it’s religion more than skin colour

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:10

Tallisker · 21/07/2026 17:08

I think I’ve had some African and Viking and Roman in me.

Good on you

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 17:09

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:06

Ok so you don't need to contribute to a thread talking about the past then?

I'll contribute to any thread I like thanks. Referring to some time way back to try to persuade (or virtue signal) that migration is an amazing and wonderful thing is either woefully naïve or disingenuous.

Funny how it's only the western world that's having this thrust upon us. I know the background story, but most others don't. I don't like people being led up the garden path.

Another2Cats · 21/07/2026 17:09

aliasfrog · 21/07/2026 16:06

Hello, illegal immigrants can't claim benefits. I know because I am a benefit assessor. You can only claim if you have indefinite leave to remain as an immigrant which takes minimum 5 years of living and working here plus thousands of ££ spent on the visas and nhs surcharge.

By "illegal immigrants", I take it the other poster is referring to 'asylum seekers'.

As soon as an 'asylum seeker' is granted refugee status then they are immediately entitled to all welfare benefits - the main one being UC.

I believe that it typically takes around six months to process an application. So any 'asylum seekers' will typically be getting UC within six months of arriving.

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:09

Hyperion100 · 21/07/2026 17:04

With so many undocumented, unknowable's being imported en mass to the country, I'll just leave this here from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the UAE...

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DD2sV59P7Dh/

undocumented, unknowable's being imported en mass

Ew

OP posts:
Carouseloflife · 21/07/2026 17:09

We all may have come on different ships but we’re all in the same boat now, as a very famous person once said.

Tallisker · 21/07/2026 17:08

upinaballoon · 21/07/2026 14:21

I think I've got some African and Viking and Roman in me.

I think I’ve had some African and Viking and Roman in me.

blackheartsgirl · 21/07/2026 17:08

SadiraOfTyr · 21/07/2026 14:37

Pretty sure that OP is referring to the Huguenot diaspora (ie refugees) rather than the Dutch Invasion.

I assumed that too. I’m descended from those Huguenot immigrants, I consider myself British but I wouldn’t have been back in the 17th century.

I should think it’s extremely rare that someone is 100 percent British or English.

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:06

smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 17:05

It doesn't matter. They're a net drain on our resources and are committing violent crimes. I don't live in the past, I live now.

Ok so you don't need to contribute to a thread talking about the past then?

OP posts:
Wornouttoday · 21/07/2026 17:06

lightseeker · 21/07/2026 14:11

I think your premise is a bit silly OP, tbh. But yes, of course it's true that immigration is a fact of life.

I think it’s a very sensible premise myself. We’re all a big mixture on this small windswept island on the edge of the Atlantic. Bit of this, bit of that.

smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 17:05

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:03

Point is, people have always hated immigrants and thought in stereotypes. The English thought the French were dirty and brought the plague (while the French think it was the English that spread the plague over there)

It doesn't matter. They're a net drain on our resources and are committing violent crimes. I don't live in the past, I live now.

IcedPurple · 21/07/2026 17:04

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 16:59

I have a family member who moved to a different country where they were less financially stable to marry. But you can take the view that all people are selfish and only out for financial gain, I just think that's sad

If you have the right to live in a poorer country or a richer country, it makes obvious good sense to choose the richer one. I wouldn't call that 'selfish'. Just sensible. Which is why the vast majority of mixed nationality couples do just that, at least based on anecdotal evidence.

MrsLaundryMountain · 21/07/2026 17:04

chirrupybird · 21/07/2026 14:59

Britain has been invaded so many times in the past as well as having waves of immigration from all over that I don't even know what British is apart from being born in this country or taking out British citizenship. I assume many recent immigrants still associate themselves with their home countries rather than Britain as most of us would if we moved abroad.

I got citizenship a couple of years ago and deffo feel British instead of German. Been here two decades

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:03

smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 16:59

Some of the most violent people from some of the most violent and dysfunctional countries in the world are entering our country en masse and we're supposed to compare them to the 17th Century French?!

Our government and others are complaining about disabled and young people not working. Look at the statistics for the lowest educated, highest unemployment, highest prison percentage in the UK in recent years.

Obviously the brainwashing is going well, judging by most of the responses here. Be careful what you wish for.

Point is, people have always hated immigrants and thought in stereotypes. The English thought the French were dirty and brought the plague (while the French think it was the English that spread the plague over there)

OP posts:
aliasfrog · 21/07/2026 17:02

KatiePricesKnickers · 21/07/2026 16:55

How do they survive for 5 years with no benefits?
Foraging for food in the woods?

They work illegally in barber shops and nail bars where they're exploited by the bosses, probably.

RedToothBrush · 21/07/2026 17:02

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:00

That is so interesting! Amazing you can trace it back so far. Unfortunately as most of my family are Jewish their records were destroyed so it's hard to go very far back

She has an unusual surname within the family. Always helps.

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 17:00

RedToothBrush · 21/07/2026 16:58

I love a good huguenot story.

I've recently traced my Aunt's. Looks like she was related to some pretty significant French pirates.

Looks like they were part of the 1688 movement.

Edited

That is so interesting! Amazing you can trace it back so far. Unfortunately as most of my family are Jewish their records were destroyed so it's hard to go very far back

OP posts:
IcedPurple · 21/07/2026 16:59

SerendipityJane · 21/07/2026 16:55

But as you don't know, that is not (a) the law and (b) not what Enoch said.

I had no truck with his views. However they are perfectly articulated (unlike this thread). Which is why they are open for debate.

E2A: More spelling

Edited

Of course I know that! Former imperial subjects gained the status of 'Commonwealth citizens'. They did have right to emigrate to Britain, but were not British citizens.

I couldn't give a fiddler's what Enoch Powell says. You brought him into the discussion, not me.

glitterpaperchain · 21/07/2026 16:59

Notsodisney · 21/07/2026 16:57

It is. Couples always pick the better financially. Let's not play naive to that. Would be pretty weird to move to country where you will be financially less stable than in the other. Takes quite some counting though sometimes!

I have a family member who moved to a different country where they were less financially stable to marry. But you can take the view that all people are selfish and only out for financial gain, I just think that's sad

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 21/07/2026 16:59

Some of the most violent people from some of the most violent and dysfunctional countries in the world are entering our country en masse and we're supposed to compare them to the 17th Century French?!

Our government and others are complaining about disabled and young people not working. Look at the statistics for the lowest educated, highest unemployment, highest prison percentage in the UK in recent years.

Obviously the brainwashing is going well, judging by most of the responses here. Be careful what you wish for.

RedToothBrush · 21/07/2026 16:58

I love a good huguenot story.

I've recently traced my Aunt's. Looks like she was related to some pretty significant French pirates.

Looks like they were part of the 1688 movement.

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