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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not like this Idea of a new multicultural Britain

789 replies

monkeyfarm · 12/12/2012 10:55

I suspect this probably won't go down too well but I'm just being honest as I'm interested to see if I'm the only one who feels this way?
I hate how things are changing, how I can be in a store feel like I'm in eastern europe, why are we one of the only countries that do this? why can't we take a leaf out of the book of Australia and open our doors to people who have something to contribute and not just all and sundry?
Am I on my own in feeling this way?

OP posts:

MrsMuddyPuddles · 12/12/2012 14:08

"I hate how things are changing, how I can be in a store feel like I'm in eastern europe, why are we one of the only countries that do this?"

Try visiting France or the US, luv. There's tons of "little Africa" areas in the larger towns and cities of France, and much of the US is slowly becoming bilingual with South American Spanish though your American counterparts have much to moan about that

cantspel · 12/12/2012 14:09

It is easy to get around minimum wage as they just work on a self employed basis.

My new bathroom was fitted by 2 polish brothers, their quote was less of everyone elses. Only one spoke english and he dropped his brother off each morning, told him in polish what needed doing and then collected him at the end of the day. Nice hard working fellas who did a great job and i will be giving them more work in the new year

narmada · 12/12/2012 14:11

If you think that Britain is one of the only countries that does this, monkeyfarm you need a serious lesson in world geography. Most of the migration in the world is within and between very poor countries - e.g., in Africa. Some countries have huge, huge migrant populations which pale into comparison next to the UK's.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get into this country if you are not from the EEA? Well, it's very difficult indeed.

narmada · 12/12/2012 14:12

Huge migrant populations against which the UK's pales in comparison

ImaginateMum · 12/12/2012 14:13

Yes, lots and lots of "China towns" in the world too (e.g. in Japan). It happens everywhere! It is no big deal!!

ClippedPhoenix · 12/12/2012 14:14

As cantspel has just confirmed, this is what is happening, I find what you have just said to be rather sad.

How do you know they were proper qualified bathroom fitters, did you see any credentials or were you just bowled over by getting something done so cheaply?

richardsimmonstanktop · 12/12/2012 14:15

"forgot to add that they are able to work for much less, their money is not spent here helping the economy it's sent back to Poland."

So are they not paying taxes then?

I saved as much as I could while living in the UK for a mortgage in my own country so I suppose I'm as guilty as these Poles.

cantspel · 12/12/2012 14:22

yes the brother who spoke english was a qualified plumber running a legit business. His brother not so but i would expect a british plumber to have an unqualified mate was well.

It wasn't a cheap job but it was cheaper then the other quote plus they were ones who were keen to start and gave me a time scale for the works. The other was more up in the air about when he would start and finish. There whole approach was alot more professional than the british bloke.

suburbanmyth · 12/12/2012 14:22

I've got a good idea OP - why don't YOU move to Australia, sounds like you would be much happier there.

Anniegetyourgun · 12/12/2012 14:24

I can't begin to describe how much I despise the phrase "I'm just being honest". XH used to use it when he had just said something particularly cuntish.

ClippedPhoenix · 12/12/2012 14:26

Once again I will repeat what I said in first post. It's the sheer number of immigrants that is very wrong.

monsterchild · 12/12/2012 14:31

Where I live, whites/Anglos are the immigrants (though not the most recent). The underlying culture here is either Pueblo, Navajo or Spanish (though the Navajo and Spanish are immigrants too, just earlier than Anglos).

ClippedPhoenix · 12/12/2012 14:33

And you didn't mind having a worker in your house that you couldn't communicate with if anything went wrong? Or you need to ask something of?

You saw credentials from the brother as well did you? There's a shop front for instance? A chanel to go down if, say in 2 years things go wrong? I hope so for your sake.

richardsimmonstanktop · 12/12/2012 14:34

ClippedPhoenix - Britain's population has grown by just 4 million over 20 years. Is it this growth that you think is unsustainable or just immigration?

JassyRadlett · 12/12/2012 14:37

ClippedPhoenix, what numbers would you be comfortable with then?

cantspel · 12/12/2012 14:38

I didn't need to communicate with the brother and if i had to ask anything i would ring the mobile of the other brother.

He runs a small plumbing buisness and doesn't have a shop front. I can contact him at anytime as i know his number and yard address. Why assume just because he is polish and gives a better quote he must be a cowboy?

OneLittleToddlingTerror · 12/12/2012 14:42

All the English tradesmen I've used haven't got a shop front. I've only got their mobile number. I think I'm screwed .

cory · 12/12/2012 14:42

"how I can be in a store feel like I'm in eastern europe"

Should we ban Ikea then?

MyLittleAprilSunshine · 12/12/2012 14:43

It's not that it's multicultural that bothers me, it's the overpopulation in general whether it be White British, Asian, Pakistani or American people who are taking up the space. We are a very small Island in comparison and we don't really have much more room for more people.

What does bug me though is another thing entirely - it's racist to say something to someone who is black or pakistani, for example - but when I have made a complaint about someone making a racist comment to me, it's looked over. I don't think that's right at all! I am not racist and have never made a racist joke or anything, yet I have had horrible comments made at me for being a 'white bitch' or something.

So it's double standards I don't like.

Plus the fact this little Island can only hold so many people.

Plus the fact there isn't enough nice weather going about at the moment.

But I do enjoy having friends from all different backgrounds, it makes the UK a lot more interesting.

cantspel · 12/12/2012 14:44

now i would agree to banning Ikea

awful bland furniture and the worst shopping experience on this planet

MyLittleAprilSunshine · 12/12/2012 14:44

cory :D but I do love Ikea.

ClippedPhoenix · 12/12/2012 15:18

Both but mostly our immigration. It stands to reason more people more births doesn't it really.

RedToothbrush · 12/12/2012 15:23

Both but mostly our immigration. It stands to reason more people more births doesn't it really.

Well that generally depends on what percentage of the immigrant population is
a) female
b) of childbearing age

Plenty of places in the world where immigrants are mainly men and the average age of the population in europe is rising rather than falling which you would expect in line with the a demographic where the population is ever expanding at the bottom end of the age range...

Bakingnovice · 12/12/2012 15:35

Oh dear, MN racists seem to be out in force at the moment.

honeytea · 12/12/2012 15:37

Ikea isn't from an eastern European contry.

I really hope we don't all have to "go back to where we came from" I don't want to have to move back to the UK.

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