To think Europen governments need to respond to immigration?

[Finlesswonder]

So the Netherlands is going to have a far right government.
Sweden has moved to the right.
Finland has shut its borders.
Countries that have traditionally been liberal are hardening and irrespective of the many issues listed its to do with immigration.

Ireland has seen violent protests last night following a series of stabbings.
In the UK we obviously had Brexit.

I think governments need to start responding to voters feelings on immigration as if they don't we will continue to see a general slide to the right in Europe, when actually these countries aren't right wing: it feels like a single issue is distorting the entire political landscape?

The lack of dealing with immigration is what caused Brexit. The vote was highly influenced by media stories at the time about crowds of young men in Calais. Remain totally refused to even address it, leading everyone with concerns to vote Leave. This is now happening on a wider scale.

Imo the main problem is not immigration per se, but immigration of men from countries which have non-Western attitudes to women. They arrive here and see women confidently walking around, wearing what they like and showing some skin. At best it leads to disrespect, at worst to sex crimes. I do have concerns about my own safety if the numbers of such men increase further.

Quite simply, because that's the system. The system can discern the nice guys from the scum bags. It's just the way it goes. A welfare state will always have to give to some undesireables. It's not neccessarily always fair (and believe me, when i was paying a rake of tax and struggling with childcare and housing, i had the hump) but this is what we do. It is the mark of a decent society. What we need to do is ease pressure on everyone else though, and not just a few quid randomly twice a year.

*can't!

Sweden is already in the EU, they joined in 1995.

Finland closed their border to Russia because Russia started building massive military bases on the border and threatened to invade them, it's not really an immigration issue.

@JellyMops
It is actually, in fact there is an article about it this morning with Estonia having the same issue:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/23/estonia-accuses-russia-weaponising-immigration-europe-borders

It's quite difficult to deal with though isn't it? Russia is piping people into northern Europe. And what do you suggest we do with the boats crossing the Med - sink them? Return people, yes but how if they have no papers? Do you think other countries will accept planeloads of randoms based on skin colour?

Let me get this right. You want only single women to come here, without allowing them family support, to fill our low paid jobs?

Great Britain - the saviour nation.

Some of this is already happening as the UK is now importing nurses from India and the Philippines to replace the Polish ones they threw out.

@OhYouBadBadKitten
If that's something they feel works in their favour, then sure 🤷‍♀️

I agree.

Politicians refusal to listen or engage with the public on immigration creates a situation where the public can only make their voices heard through the ballot box.

I still think Gordon Brown's 'bigoted women' comment was one of the catalyst for brexit.

I always think people need to declare if they think Britain’s colonial past renders it wrong to control immigration at all. That affects stances so much that further conversation can be pointless.
There was a BBC report that said around 60% of young Pakistani males planned to try and go abroad for work.
There are 700,000 people waiting in Libya to make a crossing to Europe.
Personally I think it is sensible for politicians to prioritise this issue.
The UK is entitled to have borders and act in the interests of its people. There is too much activity in the interests of businesses (including universities) and the impact on the nation is not considered holistically.

Solutions? Resource Border Force properly. Increase use of detention and removal. Update the asylum laws. Pursue offshore processing for illegal entrants. More money for proper assimilation measures for those already here. Prioritise women and children in refugee visa schemes.
Immigration is good and welcome but we need to accept tough measures to protect the welfare of Europeans. Welfare states and uncontrolled immigration are not compatible so take your pick.

@NutellaEllaElla I didn't mention Europe being more racist than ever before.
Racism has always existed across the world.
I merely said to the OP that immigration isn't the sole cause of the rise of the far right across Europe

So basically you're saying I have to pander to anti-immigration views or you'll riot?

Why are some voters feelings more important than mine, just because they threaten violence?

Charlatans stir up anti-immigration sentiments deliberately.

FFS. You can't blame Gordon Brown for the Tory Brexit project.

@MidnightOnceMore
This isn't about rioting or your personal feelings I'm afraid

You’re absolutely right. But MNetters largely, firmly jam their fingers in their ears and say it’s racist to have any kind of concerns about it - gammons, bigots, red faced racists - that kind of thing. That said, the conversation is starting, even on here. There was only so long an essential conversation could be shut down with insults/slurs.

I don't think people understand stats and numbers - to let 3/4 million people in with no discussion of whether they will leave is dire - most are students. I work in a local charity shop - we have 4 foreign students here from 4 different countries, I've never known of the uni (a former college associated with a remote larger uni) have foreign students. The students ( all very nice) are looking to get jobs with their new Masters qualification - which means, as it will give them a work visa, they will stay here and they will probably undercut local students - local estates can get an eg envirnonmental economist on the cheap - which they certainly will if they can.

So we let in half a million students in their 20s, make no effort to insist they leave after qualifying - they of course will marry and have children so that half a million will be 1.5 million or more if their spouse comes from the home country. The population will spiral.

Well,Theresa May tried to abolish post study work visas. Unis went bust because they rely on foreign students. So they brought it back.

Migration is being used as a weapon of war alongside the need for it due to climate change. Times are going to be tough and if I were going to be a nasty old bird I would suggest there will be mass displacement of indigenous people.

I said he was one catalyst, which influenced the way people voted. I did not say he was responsible entirely for brexit. When Gordon Brown said what he said, it allowed people to hear what politicians really thought about them and their concerns. It certainly damaged labours northern working class voter base. Once voters realise they aren't going to be heard, the ballot box is the only option.

@RudsyFarmer
Can you explain more? How is it useful as a weapon of war, and when you say displacement of indigenous people so you mean "from faraway lands" or do you mean from European countries?

The time to sort immigration was 40 years ago when Maggie and her ilk had the chance to listen to scientists , stop climate change and reduce world inequality

The horse has bolted and the world is becoming a challenging and so nasty place

This.

Do you agree with Gillian Duffy?

Brown shouldnt have said she was a bigoted woman, because that's an insult. He should have said she was a person who incorrectly blamed immigration for economic inequality.