to be concerned re. what is going on re. immigration and population growth?

[ClarityJane]

So many non-English voices, especially East Europeans, but so many different nationalities en masse it seems have moved here in the last 10-20 years - completely unprecedented historically. And in an already very over-crowded island.

Today I read Labour MP Frank Field say that the population increase due to immigration by 2031, i.e. less than 20 years, will be approximately 10 million and will require building something like seven new Birminghams! Or another London! Based on latest predictions in the papers today anyway.

Did Blair and Mandelson envisage this when they signed up for European Community rules on immigration and refugees? Or did they cynically not care because it meant cheap labour, cheap votes, increased profits (via membership of the European Community).

Did the architects of this policy not consider how it would affect housing, jobs and education and the resulting massive investment needed there, and the over-crowded population we have already.

I believe we have never been consulted or told anything honestly about what the consequences of EC membership was immigration-wise, if indeed there was ever any plan (doesn't seem to be, just a kind of opportunistic carpetbaggers philosophy approach of selling England by the pound).

I feel deceived and hoodwinked really. But are there any more positive thoughts on this? I find it v. depressing.

[BrickorCleat]

Did Blair and Mandelson envisage this when they signed up for European Community rules on immigration and refugees? Or did they cynically not care because it meant cheap labour, cheap votes, increased profits (via membership of the European Community).

Miliband thinks so.

In a speech to the IPPR think-tank, Mr Miliband said: "It was a mistake not to impose transitional controls on accession from Eastern European countries. We severely underestimated the number of people who would come here. We were dazzled by globalisation and too sanguine about its price.

"By focusing exclusively on immigration's impact on growth, we lost sight of who was benefiting from that growth - whose living standards were being squeezed. We became disconnected from the concerns of working people."

[Misspixietrix]

OP could you link to the European Community Rules re Immigration you speak of please. Immigration is not the reason for our current economic problems and Job crisis. They're just usefull scapegoats for this inept Government.

[QuintesKabooom]

Did you read the latest study that showed that on average immigrants have better education than the native Brits, and generally pay more taxes?

Maybe the solution to the problems would be to export some natives rather than stopping immigration?

[puntasticusername]

"This is why you can't have a real discussion in this country". What, because people disagree with you?

Yeah, it's terrible when that happens isn't it. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[purrtrillpadpadpad]

God alive, this thread needs to be frozen before it descends any further.

[Imsosorryalan]

I though you were leaving

[BonaDea]

Op, I think people are swearing because they are infuriated. You do realise that saying 'I am not racist' doesn't actually mean that you are not racist, don't you?

The 'so many non English voices' comment was pretty shocking. What kind of voices concern you? American voices? French? Japanese? Or is it only those pesky Eastern Europeans?

[Mylovelyboy]

I dont think the OP is racist one bit. She makes a valid point. You only have to go to London (and thats just one place). I have Foreign born friends that have lived here most their lives and paid their taxes. They happen to say the same thing as the OP and they are not English born. Enough is enough. We are a tiny island. I have nothing against foreign people whatsoever. As i said, I have friends that are not English born. But this country needs to say NO MORE. Our resources are stretched to the limit and there is a housing crisis for English people so how on earth can we accommodate more.

[carabos]

There was a very interesting programme on a week or so back, something like "No sex please we're Japanese" which discussed the problem facing Japan and how their situation compares to our own.

Japan is a very small country, with a population twice the twice of ours. It is a very homogenous society, only about 1 in 10 people is an immigrant or foreigner. They have the longest life expectancy in the world and a low birthrate.

It is difficult to emigrate to Japan and there is no political will to change that, but the economist on the programme made the point that in the absence of a rapidly and massively increased birthrate among the indigenous population, only an influx of immigrants can solve the long term problems of large, ageing, dependent cohort supported by an ever smaller workforce.

Sound familiar?

[Heartbrokenmum73]

I think you all know that the immigration 'crisis' is the fault of benefit scroungers and the gays. And if Diana were still alive, none of this would be happening.

Thread reported. Honestly, OP.

[tinmug]

I'm an immigrant :)

[Dawndonnaagain]

Oh querido hacer mierda!

[AnandaTimeIn]

Its weird if you walk around and never hear an English voice.

Of course you are happy they are cleaning the public toilets, buses, parks, streets, emptying the bins etc. Nannying, working in cafes, pubs, etc.

All lovely people. Also all the waiters etc. in the London restaurant I was in recently.

Yea, get all those English speaking youth without jobs out there doing that.
Why not? I don't have a problem with whoever does the job.

Personally I love meeting people from all over the world in every country in whatever job.

[Heartbrokenmum73]

Mylovelyboy

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

That is all.

[Mylovelyboy]

I think people on here need to calm down. The OP is making a point that she is concerned about. Does not make her a bad person or a racist. She is entitled to her opinion without getting bashed.

[ClarityJane]

I think a lot of posters above must live in a very narrow or privileged/comfortable or even make-believe world, and don't see the true reality around them. But I see it. My friends see it. However, no-one is allowed to mention it, because we get the kind of response shown in this thread to me (patronising, insulting, etc).

It would be nice if posters' responses were actually genuinely positive, but the fact that they are so not based on reality, but reality-denying, is every more cause for worry.

I see trouble ahead.

[Misspixietrix]

Bonadea you can just hear the Spanish and Germans now can't you slagging off all the British immigrants err I mean Expats "So many non-Spanish/German voices". Also I vote no, let this thread stay up we can at least try to educate :)

[WidowWadman]

Ich bin Immigrantin und Postings, wie das Ausgangsposting dieses Threads machen mich genauso betruebt, wie die Titelseiten des Daily Express oder die nicht auf Fakten gestuetzte Panikmache von Gruppierungen wie z.B. Migration Watch, die ich mir morgens auf dem Weg zur Arbeit im Today Programm anhoeren kann.

Zum Glueck gibt es, so wie auch dieser Thread es zeigt, genuegend Einheimische die nicht so denken.

Warum spielt es eine Rolle wo jemand geboren ist?

[Mylovelyboy]

Heartbrokenmum73 - Are you ok

[Strumpetron]

I would absolutely love to speak German. I'd be one of these 'non english voices'

[JaquelineHyde]

Clarity can you explain what you mean by an English voice?

[tinmug]

Why do people keep bleating on about resources being stretched? Do they not understand that us fucking foreigners actually do contribute, in the form of tax and NI, to the pool of resources?

And actually Britain invaded and fucked over my country (and many, many, many others) so I don't see why we shouldn't all flood in and piss you guys off by simply being here, tbh.

[gordyslovesheep]

I have my eyes wide open OP and I am still disagreeing with you :)

[LaurieFairyCake]

It's like a bingo card now someone has said they can't be racist as they have friends who aren't English

It's not a tiny island. And London is of course the capital and quite er.... busy