to feel that after living here for twenty years that i am no longer really welcome

[xmasadsboohiss]

I am from another European country and have lived here virtually all my adult life. I have worked for all of that time apart from a couple of months on the dole and on maternity leave. I will never consider myself British although I broadly share the values of the majority of people in this country. Over the last few months as Nigel Farage has been getting more and more air time I am feeling increasingly alienated and almost unwelcome - presumably Mr Farage's solution would be that I should pack my bags and go. If only life in the real world were quite so straightforward.

I've been here for 12 years and have never been made to feel unwelcome.
UKIP has had no impact on my life so far.

YANBU to be affected by the media coverage.

But in reality, Nigel Opinionated-Bloke-In-A-Pub mostly represents himself, some bigots, and some normal people who didn't read his manifesto.

Do people really 100% honestly think that as his German wife works for him it goes against UKIP policies ?

Farage is a tit and the media pay far too much attention to him.

I would have thought the UK was the best country in Europe in which to be foreign? Or at least the place where it is most "normal" to meet and work and study with people who were born abroad. As other posters have mentioned, foreign born people have integrated in the NHS, for example, to a degree that means any disentanglement would cause serious problems.

Why is ukip more popular with men than women? It baffles me.

I see that MrKnowitall has been taken in by the UKIP propaganda.

They do quite a good line in "all we want is a points based system" in their publicity.

We HAVE a points based system. It's been in existence since 2008.

In fact, we have a stricter one that the Ozzies do. Entering the UK if you are a non-EEA national is now only slightly more difficult and inaccessible to the average migrant than space travel.

Back to the policy-writing board, kippers.

It is of course true that European nationals are entitled to live in the UK if, and only if, they are working, studying (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance), or self-sufficient (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance). That's a separate issue to non-EEA immigration.

A debate about immigration is great but it often sadly gets hijacked by racists who frankly couldn't tell the difference between an "illegal" and their local heart surgeon. All they are interested in is fewer non-white faces on the street, and since most non-white people in the UK are British citizens, that ain't going to happen.

I think that UKIP are likely to do well in the local elections because they are the only credible protest vote. I know plenty of people who dislike their immigration "policy" but will vote for them "to send a message to the Tories." Unfortunately that message is likely to be "voters want you to make migrants' lives yet more difficult."

There's loads of "anti-foreigner" ranting on the internet - just look at the comments under Yahoo articles. I'm not surprised this kind of thing makes you feel unwelcome . Much of it is anti-Muslim in particular.

Because women still spend more time in playgrounds, parks, clinics, the community in general Linerunner and are therefore more aware of the reality?

PosyFossilsShoes hear hear.

Precious - that is heartbreaking that your child has been subjected to that.

Thanks to you all for your supportive comments.

A debate about immigration is great but it often sadly gets hijacked by racists who frankly couldn't tell the difference between an "illegal" and their local heart surgeon. All they are interested in is fewer non-white faces on the street, and since most non-white people in the UK are British citizens, that ain't going to happen.

^this

With nobs on.

Farrage and the Kippers don't speak for me or anyone I know either OP.

"It was an insulting thing to say to the OP, Threetimes."

No biwi it wasn't insulting. However it was my opinion, hence I expressed it on a open Internet forum.

"And it worries me that you can't see that."

Really? It worries you? Ok.....

In fact, we have a stricter one that the Ozzies do. Entering the UK if you are a non-EEA national is now only slightly more difficult and inaccessible to the average migrant than space travel.

My dh is a non-EEA national - although he is now also British - so we have gone through the whole process of getting three different visas and then citizenship for him so I am quite aware of how difficult things are.

I would disagree with the comments about space travel, it is very certainly doable - albeit tedious and time consuming.

The difference with EU immigration is the impact that this has on low paid jobs. In areas with large numbers of EU immigrants there is a strong cap on wage levels allowing companies to pay less than they otherwise would.

The current immigration policy benefits the well off and employers and does nothing to help low income families.
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It is of course true that European nationals are entitled to live in the UK if, and only if, they are working, studying (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance), or self-sufficient (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance). That's a separate issue to non-EEA immigration.

This is not the whole story. The habitual residence test is comparitively easy to pass and then they are not required to meet the measures you mention.

Other countries are much stricter. For example, when I was working in my dh's birth country I was there on a work permit. If I were to lose my job I had 30 days in which to find another or I would be required to leave the country.

You've put my faith back in humanity. So pleased to see people a) recognise UKIP as racist and b) aren't taken in by their bullshit.

Even if they get seats in the Euro elections it will have little impact locally. Scumbag Nick Griffin is one our MEPs, shamefully. But I live in a mixed neighbourhood with several Pakistani neighbours and we all rub along brilliantly. Politicians and the media can try and create division as much as they want, but people out there know better in most cases.

Arr this has given me the rage. I am so angry that you feel this way, it's not fair at all and I really hope this thread has shown you that you are so so so welcome here, it is your home and none of us feel you shouldn't be here! Ignore that gobshite he doesn't speak for us.

and I hope you feel better soon

I think I started a very similar thread a couple of months ago.

I dont feel at home here. I dont think I ever will, but my children do. Dh does, he came here when he was just 18, and he has family here.

I dont think quality of life is any better here, so it is not like we are here for a better life. I came her to study, met dh, fell in love, and stayed. This was in 1993. Even then I had elderly ladies at bus stop rant at me about immigration, totally at random, and then see them go when I spoke and they heard from my accent that I was not native, going "oh, I dont mean, you, I am sure you are ok."

Strangers have been telling me that life in Britain is so easy for foreigners. I dont see it. I dont see how life is easier when you are abroad, away from what you know, have a new and different system to deal with, living far from family and do everything in a different language to your own.

I love England, but I cant voice opinions, not possible to say that something is better elsewhere, as people will just tell you to "go home", so I go through life without opinions and without speaking my mind, because I will be ostracized if I dare say anything critical about the UK, or compare it to somewhere else. I can never let my guard down in presence of Brits, and by myself, like I can back home.

I think I go through life acting like I am in a play, every time I go on the school run, and I mostly keep away from people. I just feel awkward and disliked, unless I speak to other foreigners. It is really strange how different people are. After 20 years here, it is strange how i have no English friends, and that is not through choice, it just has not worked out that way.

Where on earth in the UK are you Quint? That sounds horrible.

Biwi thanks for your support. I don't want to get in to a bun fight about the rights and wrongs of comments made - all I would say is that I have never considered expressing my opinion as being attention seeking.

And yes ChairmanWow this thread does certainly make you see the better side of human nature!

London, would you believe it!

It is of course true that European nationals are entitled to live in the UK if, and only if, they are working, studying (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance), or self-sufficient (and hold comprehensive sickness insurance). That's a separate issue to non-EEA immigration.

This is not the whole story. The habitual residence test is comparitively easy to pass and then they are not required to meet the measures you mention.

The EEA Regs give you three months initial entry to find a job, and in theory if you don't get one then you should leave. During that time an EEA jobseeker can get JSA but not housing benefit.

There is a genuine issue with the implementation of benefits stoppages - I know that some EEA jobseekers carry on getting benefits waaaaay past when they should have stopped, and that should be dealt with. And there is arguably a discussion to be had over whether it is ok for an EEA national to work 10 hours a week and claim income support for the rest of their income - at present that is legal. However, the theory is fine - you work / study / are self sufficient or you leave. We have free movement of workers not of people.

Other countries are much stricter. For example, when I was working in my dh's birth country I was there on a work permit. If I were to lose my job I had 30 days in which to find another or I would be required to leave the country.

You said your DH was a non-EEA national so you're comparing EEA to non-EEA, apples and oranges. If your DH was here on a work permit not a spouse visa and lost his job, he would have 28 days not only to find another but also to reapply for a new visa. If the new visa wasn't granted he would have no right of appeal and would be required to leave. Like I say, we already have a v strict system for non-EEA nationals.

Gosh that really is shocking Quint. Come and have a coffee with me

I almost started a similar thread recently, OP. I've lived in the UK for nine years now, and have always felt very welcomed here, right from the beginning. It was very heart-warming, cause I moved here on my own, as a rather naive and inexperienced 21-year old.
I work for an agency, so meet a lot of different people through work. I have pretty much lost my Polish accent, so many people don't realise I'm foreign unless I tell them. In the last year or so, I have started noticing many more xenophobic and racist comments than I used to... Now I don't know if it's me noticing things that used to go over my head in the past, or have attitudes really changed?
It is amusing though to work with someone who casually slags off "those Eastern Europeans", let them have their moan, and then mention I'm Polish

I can identify a lot with what Quint says. Especially the last paragraph.

On my school run, the two mums who talked immediately and without any hesitation and made me feel welcome were Scottish.

I am sure a lot of it has to do with the famous English reticence and reserve, and I am a shy one as well. It takes two to tango after all, but it was such a marked contrast.