We cannot continue taking on immigrants indefinitely

[MobilityCat]

I'll probably be shot down for saying this but Immigration should be strictly controlled or we'll all become significantly disadvantaged. While international law doesn't require asylum seekers to stay in the first safe country they reach, some governments argue they should. There is a belief that the UK has a fairer asylum process, more legal protections, and better opportunities for work and education compared to other countries. While the reality may be different, word of mouth and social media often spread the idea that the UK is a good place to seek asylum. Our reputation as a desirable asylum destination is straining social services, housing, and the asylum system. The NHS and schools face increased pressure, housing shortages worsen, and asylum backlogs lead to long waits and high costs. Public frustration is growing, fueling political divisions. The system is unsustainable due to financial burdens, fairness concerns, and security risks.

But of course, I'm talking compared to the resident population of where I lived. Probably about 60% Spanish, 40% immigrant. And shockingly enough (for Spain) the immigrants weren't British (who a lot of Spanish hate) but were Muslim and a range of ethnicities. Our neighbours were Muslim, Romanian, Nigerian and Portuguese.

I'm sorry, I was being facetious 😂

Many, many countries have had empires in recent history and not just European countries.

In any case I don’t think the historical moral argument carries much weight. It is too distant and too complex. For example, while British people sometimes exploited the citizens of other countries, so too did the natives of those countries (for example in places like India, the Indian aristocracy were in cahoots with the British). The relationship with Britain often had cultural and economic benefits (which is, I assume, why many of these countries are still in the commonwealth instead of severing all ties in disgust).

It’s also a really hard sell to people here whose great great great grandparents were abjectly poor at the time of empire and who themselves are not rich.

Come to areas like Whitechapel and see what it's like.

Ah no worries

I believe what you say but I don't think we can extrapolate any meaningful figures from the small sample you quote ! I get the point you're making though.

The Spanish are unique in that Spaniards have about 11% Moorish ancestry. Moors were of North African descent and were in Spain for 800 years before they were expelled by, I believe, Ferdinand and Isabella in the 1600s

@Appleandoranges I think there were 5 working people per pensioner in 1950 but only 3 working people per pensioner now.

Ok, so this is where your argument in favour of immigration completely falls apart. Our population has gone through the roof and yet there are fewer people than ever working to support the pensioners. There's 18 million more people than there were in 1950.

You do realise that asylum seekers will have no recourse to public funds and are not eligible for social housing right?

Some may get some ABSOLUTELY MEAGRE support from social services if they have children or are extremely vulnerable.

Have you seen where they live and the money they get? I have! I used to work doling out what was genuinely a pittance in support payments to asylum seekers. And they were living in tiny hostel rooms. They really do get very, very little and that's the people social services are actively supporting with duties under the care act or children act.

You should thank your lucky stars you are not in that position.

I recon the racists marching up Brick Lane with big white crosses handing out racist newspapers don't help much

I am honestly so sick of people blaming asylum seekers for the housing crisis. Asylum seekers literally cannot get social housing. It's the bloody law. I don't know how the whole nation is conveniently ignoring this! It's so frustrating. Asylum seekers are not causing the housing shortages. They just aren't! In fact, they can't!

I thought they wore white pointy hats and dressed in old white bedsheets?

(The crosses they usually plant in peoples' gardens)

I don't think anyone has any ruck with the 6% of people that are asylum seekers. It's the 94% others that are emigrating for economic reasons and usually a 20 something male with no dependents or family coming with them.

No they literally do walk down brick lane with big white crosses, handing out leaflets. I've seen it a few times.

The OP mentioned asylum seekers quite a lot of times!

I was being facetious and comparing them to the Ku Klux Klan.😳

I don't really find it funny, it was pretty chilling actually because yes the crosses are reminiscent of KKK and I imagine that is intentional

Yes there are more people in the UK than in the 1950s! But there's a far greater proportion of people who are older and not working and also requiring more spending on healthcare etc. Who is going to pay for the taxes to fund healthcare when we have a declining birth rate? I mean people can froth all they want about muslims etc, the reality is that industries social care/health/agriculture demand immigrants. In fact a lot of universities depend of immigrants tuition fees. The thing is Nigel Farage wanted Brexit. But what happened - increasing immigration from Asia rather than Europe. Increasing immigration happens because of the declining birth rate and the ageing population here. Who exactly is going to take care of the sick and the elderly? If not immigrant workers. The UK also does not have a culture of looking after the elderly in the family the way Japan does! So those people going on about Japan - are they expecting multi-generational living Japan-style here. There is increasing immigration everywhere in Europe for much the same reason. The right is full of politicians taking advantage of people's xenophobia and cost of living crisis but they have no real answers to fix the problem of declining birth rate and aging population.

I don't find it funny either.

My emoji was supposed to be an embarrassed one because I'd made a joke in rather poor taste.

Oh I see, sorry. Yes as you say the similarities are there though, I felt like it was 'say you want to lynch people without saying you want to lynch people' situation. Evoking the imagery while trying to say that's not what they're into

Can we build millions of houses on our agricultural land for these extra millions (1 million per year) if we are to keep going a this rate.

We only have 50% food security which has reduced from 75% food security in 1975. Are we to keep giving up arable land for building on so that we can have more mouths to feed reducing food security even more?

And where does this end? Do we keep growing forever and ever?

The idea of a population which can never contract is flawed. The system is inherently and deeply flawed.

Japan is turning around. It's been painful but it is possible.

I completely agree.

UK has become a place where almost anyone in the world can apply for a job now.

We aren't investing in our young people anymore because the competition from abroad is so intense, anyone can apply.

Then after a few years they go back to where they came from with some 'fantastic' UK experience and the people we should have trained up, have either never found a footing in the career they would have been brilliant at, or have themselves gone abroad.

it's happening right now with young medical graduates, nurses, paramedics etc. they all can't get work here and are going abroad.

And new graduates can't get jobs either, because the international competition for just regular graduate jobs is so intense too.

Lots and lots of international competition and we aren't investing in our young people. It's a recipe for disaster long-term for this country.

The OP was saying that immigration in general needs controlling. Of course 700,000 people a year causes strains on the UK's housing when only 250,000 new houses are built a year. Never mind services etc. Bonkers to suggest these levels of immigration don't cause an impact on housing yet I keep hearing people saying it doesn't.
Can't even get our own homeless off the streets but illegals get hotel rooms/hostels/barges etc.
BRITAIN FIRST HAHA

Japan has had stagnant growth for years! It's not a country we need to follow in any sense. Who do you think is going to pay for your pensions/healthcare and look after you when you are older, if not immigrants? Look at the UK's birth rate. It is falling and falling. Just like the rest of Europe's. The problem with this anti-immigration rhetoric is people make decisions like Brexit. Which meant that immigration from Europe was replaced by even higher immigration from Asia. European immigrants might return back to their home to retire and go back and forth. Asian immigrants - not so much. It also led to far lower investment in the UK which means lower growth and an even greater reliance on immigrants in the future. The biggest winners from Brexit - Farage and immigrants from Asia into the UK As for food security and immigrants! Farms were crying out for cheap immigrants from Eastern Europe. I mean if makes people happy, they can rant all they want about govt and immigrants but reality is sectors such as health/social care/higher education are asking for them. It's inevitable because of aging population and falling birth rate.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyx6wwp5d5o

London double deckers are 70-85 seaters, so your ridiculous analogy means there's plenty of space.