Related to my earlier post (that was commenting on Brefugee's earlier post), I've just seen a thread on Active titled something like 'Londoners are decimating my town'.
It struck me how Londoners can't win. I'm not from there but a friend is (although she moved here years ago). London has many people moving there from other parts of this country and abroad. Then when Londoners can't afford housing, they're told (including on multiple threads on MN) to move somewhere else. Except, somewhere else doesn't want them.
It cannot be ignored, the relation to mass immigration and that sentiment. In two ways.
First, I understand London has 2 thirds of all immigrants to the UK? Read it somewhere and might be wrong about that figure. That obviously has the same impact on Londoners as London 'blow ins' have on other UK areas. Added pressure on jobs and housing.
Secondly, the hostility expressed towards incomers (whether women in the workplace, or migrants, or domestic 'blow ins' moving somewhere new) is usually not anti whoever the incomer is. It's simple concern about increased housing pressure and job competition.
There are a few genuinely prejudiced people who don't like incomers simply because of where they're from or their sex or whatever other thing that makes them 'different' but that's imo a small minority.
As for whether these concerns and issues are Left or Right. It's become mainstream to view any concerns about the impact of mass immigration as Right. (With mass internal displacement, I think it's ignored by both sides and doesn't seem to be considered Left or Right?). However I'd say different to the (modern) mainstream view. I'd say the concerns are Left, especially as it's more disadvantaged people and communities most affected.
The policies themselves, of mass immigration, and separately but often related, mass domestic displacement (especially without providing extra social housing and protecting against wage suppression) is very Right.
As for the solution. Not simple or easy but the issues shouldn't be ignored. We need to try to find compassionate solutions, that avoid kneejerk blame or hate of various different groups, but also take into account the needs of people already in an area, especially the disadvantaged. That's relevant for both mass immigration and for mass domestic displacement.