to be surprised by how many people are anti-immigration?

[Mimstar]

I was called naive today. Apparently 'if you aren't concerned by immigration, you've got your head in wonderland'.

And I thought - actually, I know hardly anybody else who isn't anti-immigration.

I'm trying to understand this attitude, it seems so common nowadays. Maybe I do have my head in wonderland.

I'm so tired of hearing 'job stealers!' type comments.

Thank you for those links. I think I am in fact shocked and surprised.

Chibi given I assume you're not here illegally, that must be incredibly intimidating to say the least.

I'm shocked too, TSS. I couldn't believe it when I first read it - I honestly thought it must be a spoof.

Things it's just plain rude, that's what I don't like about the mobile billboards. One of the things I like about the UK is the general trend towards good manners - the Dutch haven't got the hang of that one. Manners are a priceless asset and should not be thrown away over a cheap piece of political point scoring that will make no different to immigration rates at all.

I read the Telegraph Things but I can still spot ignorance and thinly veiled racism a mile off. You might want to have a little chat with yourself.

i am in the uk. all of this has been in the news. UKBA do not have the same powers that police do, but not everyone knows this.

fwiw i do not hate it here- i gave 10 years of my life, my hard work, to this country. i gave birth to british babies here, taught them to love their country.

i don't hate it here,but it is clear that people like me are unwelcome. fair enough i guess

"But it says in the paper that theres too many if Them, so it must be true, they think."

Wonder if it was the Grauniad being referenced here ? No chip on my shoulder about the papers, skyler, just assumptions about how gullible people are.

Didn't think aggressive , LRD ? If I came accross that way, I apologise.

i have been a citizen since 2008, and had indefinate leave remain before that from 2004 (i think) and before that held a work permit.

i have not done anything wrong and my immigration status is 100% legal

I think as well, there's the big issue that 'Go Home' is simple English, written in huge letters, and has the added sting of being a cliche flung at immigrants.

Yes, if you read on, you discover the aim is to flush out illegal immigrants.

But imagine if you are someone who is legitimately here - the first thing that will strike your eye is that message, which you will associate with xenophobia and racism.

And chibi makes a very important point about people not knowing what powers the UKBA have.

things - thanks for the apology.

immigration when compared with emigration isn't actually all that high.

this summary is fom an office of antional statistics report from nov 2012

Key Figures
Latest provisional data show that there was a net flow of 183,000 migrants to the UK in the year ending March 2012, which is significantly lower than the net flow of 242,000 in the year ending March 2011.

536,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending March 2012, which is significantly lower than the 578,000 who migrated the previous year. It is the lowest immigration estimate since the year to June 2004 when 528,000 people migrated to the UK.

Provisional data show that 353,000 emigrants left the UK in the year ending March 2012. This is higher than the 336,000 who emigrated in the year to March 2011. The increase in emigration is mostly due to more people leaving for a definite job. 127,000 left the UK for a definite job in the year ending March 2012, compared to 108,000 the previous year.

There were significant decreases in the net flow of non-EU and British citizens in the year ending March 2012 from the previous year. There were net flows of 185,000 non-EU citizens and -77,000 British citizens, which are lower than the estimates of 215,000 and -50,000 the previous year.

There was a significant decrease in the numbers of people arriving to study. 213,000 migrants arrived to study in the year to March 2012; lower than 232,000 the previous year. Decreases have also been seen in the number arriving for work-related reasons at 177,000 in the year to March 2012 compared to 194,000 the previous year.

Excluding visitor and transit visas, the total number of visas issued fell 14 per cent to 508,488 in the year ending September 2012 (compared with 593,978 in the previous 12 months), to the lowest 12-monthly total recorded using comparable data available from 2005.

In the year to September 2012, there were 210,921 visas issued for the purpose of study (excluding student visitors), a fall of 26 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. 145,604 work-related visas were issued in the year to September 2012, a fall of 4 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

Final figures for 2011 show that annual net migration to the UK was 215,000. The decrease in inflow and the increase in outflow have resulted in lower net migration compared to 2010 when it was 252,000.

"thinly veiled racism"

And so it begins.

^"in reality i live in a country where UKBA stop people in the street and demand to see your papers (if you don't have them with you, you can end up arrested, even though carrying id is not a legal requirement for any resident of the uk) and where government vans drive round with GO HOME written on the side."

Yep. Probably best you do go home, as you detest this country so much.^

That was a really horrible post, Things

found a newer report than that one www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/may-2013/index.html

Latest provisional data show that there was a net flow of 153,000 migrants to the UK in the year ending September 2012, which is significantly lower than the net flow of 242,000 in the year ending September 2011.

even lower.

I think movement of people is fantastic, I think more people should move from country to country. Migration is a great thing. It only doesn't work as well when there's free movement between countries with different wealth levels. It doesn't mean immigration should stop: it means that redistribution of income systems should change in the host country.

katz that is really interesting, thank you.

also another key point from the ONS is that 'Study remains the most common reason stated for migrating to the UK.'

pointythings puts very eloquently how I feel. I'm white, speak good English and work in a professional role. I know that most of the anti-immigrant posturing is not aimed at me, but I'm no less immigrant than those who it is aimed at are. I've just had the luck of having a slightly easier difficulty setting in that game. When I see the frontpages of some papers I don't feel very welcome in the country I chose to be my home.

FWIW, Skyler, I absolutely do not have a problem with immigration, or immigrants. What I do have a problem with is the dismissal of any experience of the negative aspects of immigration as somehow anecdotal, or the result of brainwashing by the tabloids. People complain about what they see, with their own eyes, in their own communities. And are rubbished, as bigots, and racists. Remember Gordon Brown, and Mrs Duffy?

The economy where I live could not now function without mass Eastern European immigration. I most emphatically do not want them " sent back".

What I do want is some recognition, and funding, from government for the additional burden this is placing on local services.

A link to our guidelines
Thanks

That "Stirring up tension and division illegally?" billboard on the van is worrisome because it doesn't directly refer to immigration status. It makes it sound as though expressing a viewpoint contrary to that of the official one is illegal, whether you are a citizen or not.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, Things. My opinion is that your earlier post directed to chibi was incredibly nasty. Do you tell any immigrant who dares to criticise the UK to 'go home'?

Things that is a much more nuanced post - thank you.

The UK government are very, very bad at using European law to claim back costs from host countries as they are entitled to do. It always has been, it's as if they have blinkers on.

I think the problem or European migration can only be resolved by the EU working together as a whole though. With anti-Europe feeling running so high, that kind of cooperation is just not going to happen. The other thing that needs to happen, which is within the UK government's gift, is to ensure economic development and regeneration across the entire UK, not just in London and in big urban centres. People follow jobs - we need jobs everywhere so that people - including immigrants - don't end up congregating in a few areas, placing a strain on services and making it relatively difficult to plan.

naive or writing an article.

Skyler Poster wrote "i am doing everything i can to go home and take my family with me"

As she /he is clearly very unhappy with many aspects of life here suggesting that those intentions may be for the best is not quite saying go home if you don't like it

Ah, I see MNHQ have deleted that post. Good.