I really liked my neighbour until she said this

[neighbourhoodwatch]

I've recently moved to a new area and was talking to my neighbour, who I really like.

Somehow the conversation went to GPs and how you can never get appointments and basically have to beg to be seen nowadays.

She was saying how it didn't used for be that way... before...

She then went on to say that it's because of all the immigrants that have come into this country and how our country is too small to hold all these people.

She also talked about the illegals coming in on boats etc and how terrible it is.

I am immigrant. I didn't come on a boat and I have a good job etc. But essentially I came to this country. I've never claimed benefits or anything like that. I'm on a high salary etc and studied here etc etc. So, I'm well established. Essentially whenever people say stuff like that, alarm bells start ringing for me.

Am I seeing it too black and white ? It's just difficult when someone says stuff like this to someone who also came here..... as an immigrant...

Anyone who doesn't think mass immigration is great or think all immigrants should be welcomed with open arms and are all really great people, must be evil, right?

I recently went to Cyprus and stayed in a small traditional village. In recent years there has been quite a lot of immigration from Russia and Africa (as a result of an EU policy apparently) The local taverna owner is most upset about how these immigrants are changing the culture of the village. There has been an increase in crime and theft. People feel less safe and now have to secure their houses and cars and chain down plant pots and outdoor furniture. The Russians are building huge houses everywhere and opening bars which have questionable intentions (think lap dancing and strip bars) which the Cypriot locals don't like or visit. Was he wrong to bemoan the immigration and ask the question "why can't people live in their own countries, why is it good for every country to become the same?"

Immigration has massively impacted on health care and education - you are wilfully stupid if you're suggesting it hasn't.

Distance yourself. That's all you can do.

My current GP is Italian, the ones before that was Dutch, before that Polish, before that Dutch, before that British, before that Italian, before that Indian . Perhaps she needs to consider that the HNS is run by immigrants who actually look after us. Oh, and my dentist was Polish too

There is absolutely no reason why GPs, consultants, and other NHS staff need to come from somewhere other than the UK. Proper funding and education resources need to be put in place for this

@DysonSphere what a very well considered and measured post.

Another one who'd like to thank @DysonSphere for that empathetic and intelligent post.

These kind of posts appear every day. As soon as I got the gist, I thought how long before or comes out that the neighbour reads the Daily Mail, voted Brexit.

This. Every day

It really is the height of arrogance to suggest that people who disagree with you are thick and persuaded by a newspaper.

Thank you @DysonSphere

I think you will probably find that most Xenophobic people are racist as well. Probably think it's ok if a Swedish person came over, but not someone with a different colour skin. These same people happily use the NHS and go for their Friday night kebab or curry, and don't see the irony in that.
I'm 73, so I've seen a lot of casual racism in my time. In the sixties n**r brown was a colour you could buy clothing in. In the 80s, you could still buy tights in a nude shade, which suited my white skin but I know my Nigerian friend wasn't that colour when she got naked! All these little things added up.
We shouldn't still have these attitudes, but the problem is these people infect their children and others around them, and so it goes on.
When I was younger I was shy and didn't reply but now, I call people out on it. @neighbourhoodwatch I think you should distance yourself from her, but if she says anything else, perhaps start your reply with "As an immigrant myself"

@Livelovebehappy
"She’s been clumsy in how she’s worded it, but it’s true that our country is way over populated, impacting on housing, schools and the NHS. Can’t see what’s wrong with stating the obvious……"

I agree.

The problem isn't with immigration per se but uncontrolled immigration.

This the legacy of Tony Blair and 'New' Labour. In 1997, Tony Blair was elected following the general election that year who started to dismantle restrictions on immigration, something not outlined in party's manifesto, at the beginning of his term enacting major reforms to the country's immigration system and policies.

Between 1997 and 2010, net annual immigration quadrupled, and the UK population was boosted by more than 2.2 million.
These people are now approaching retirement age and will be needing more financial and medical support.

It's a shame isn't it. I've heard this from an elderly neighbour, it was so sad because I'd liked her up to that point and I'm friendly with her family. She just came out with it.. I realised that many in her circle probably also share the same opinion but aren't as stupid to openly admit it in front of me.

Me too. A few really thoughtful posts on here.

BTW I must be an insensitive soul but I'll pretty well talk to most people.

Yes, immigration has massively impacted on the NHS..... I am forever grateful for the immigrants in our local hospitals without whom my husband would not be so well cared for. I include in this doctors nurses radiologists porters cleaners and kitchen staff.

Yet you don't think it's put pressure on resources? Wilfully stupid. Keep blaming the Daily Mail though.

That is almost as narrow minded and stereotyping as your NDN, and I say that as neither a Tory or a brexiteer.

However, the problems with GP surgeries all stems from the 2004 GP contract. Throw that gem of knowledge back at her next time she complains, answer back with greater knowledge.

It’s not good that the NHS uses people trained by other often poorer countries to prop up the health system. Too cheap to want to train their own staff is not a good look. Don’t know why people trot this out as a positive. And if you think that millions of immigrants don’t have an impact on services and housing etc. then you’re very hard of thinking. The U.K. is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. That’s not great when there are limited resources.

You'll never talk any sense to the (largely) middle class lefties who don't actually experience immigration in their work or where they live. The sneering dinner party set who prefer sneering at the working class.

If you live in poor housing, working in a low paid job then you have a very different experience.

If she’s genuinely good in others ways maybe she’s influenced by her up bringing and our media .Possibly give her a second chance , and your self the chance re educate her ? I was brought up by parents who were “mildly / casually “ racist and yes xenophobic. I see that now and I do know it rubbed off on me in ways that were never hateful but very ignorant. I don’t see the world like my parents did anymore. I can’t remember being re educated mind you . I just realised my parents attitude were not my own .

Beautifully put.

Except that it’s not remotely true at all. 🤦🏻‍♀️

You're reading the Tory controlled press and swallowing all the lies they print which is why we ended up with the total disaster that is Brexit. (Obviously not a disaster for those people who own one of the companies that made millions from Brexit, then you’re very happy indeed. (large percentage of Tory Govt.)

The fact is that chronic underfunding of public services by decades of Tory governments have caused these problems, not immigration, which in the U.K. is not especially high compared to other European countries.

Immigrants as a percentage of the total population (2013 data)

UK. 12.4%
Germany 11.9%
Ireland 15.9%
Switzerland 28.9%
Norway 13.8%
Latvia 13.8%

The NHS relies on immigrants to provide medical care because it’s pretty obvious that there aren’t enough U.K. born and trained staff. Another reason why Brexit has negatively impacted the health service as so many European staff have left to work in other EU countries.

This tbh.

@MangyInseam

I'm very sorry that you think that the crisis in hoisting and healthcare is due to the simple numbers of people who live here.

I'm sorry that you don't work it through, looking at the number of job vacancies there are currently. People work improve the economy, so overall more tax is paid and more money is available to be spent on 'public goods'.

Spending on 'public goods' is not a fixed amount to be spread across however many people there are in the country, meaning immigrants take from existing residents.

Consider that actual public spending is determined by the government. They decide what to spend and where to scrimp. The current lot appear to be happy to underfund their NHS and to see rents and house values continue to rise.

We might speculate about why that would be. Could it be because their supporters benefit from high rents and have funds to pay privately for health care.

That they choose to blame thief own choices on immigrants is convenient only because enough people swallow that line and continue to vote for them, against their own best interest.

It makes me very sad for our society.

Ha, a demonstration of how statistics can be used. In 2021 Britain had well over 200,000 immigrants- 4 times more than Beligum or Netherlands and nearly ten times more than Switerland. You keep Daily Mail bashing though.