What can labour do about immigration?

[CrispyEye]

Current poles showing Reform is way ahead of labour now. I’m so worried Reform will win the next general election if Labour don’t get a grip on this issue. And I say that as a Tory voter.

Realistically, what can Labour do, what should they be doing and do we think they will do it?

I don't include you and a few other posters in that comment, maybe the answer is to more involved at a local level, online is pretty much swamped with this rhetoric, even Mumsnet now!

County Council elections in your area were postponed until May 2026.

How do you know my area?

@Keirawr You seem to think that possess all the facts. I’m not sure what you mean by “righteous people laughing”. And what do you mean by “they never learn”? I didn’t see anyone laughing after Brexit, many actually expressed regret after voting Leave. But your word “squealing” is very off-putting. You seem to support Brexit despite all the lies spread by Farage et al and somehow think we are being “sanctimonious” and clearly think you’re “smart”.

Most of London will never vote Reform. And given that’s where most of the tax revenue is generated, it’s sort of a problem for Reform.

Because you have indicated over 100 times where you live and I have been on some of the threads.

Why? It’s not like they can avoid paying tax?
Most of Liverpool would never vote Tory, didn’t hear of a ‘tax strike’ during any of the previous Tory governments.

@HellsBalls

It makes you wonder if it’s a myth that so much migration is good for the economy.
There is essential migration (NHS, scientists, engineers etc) and then there is the rest.
The essential immigration should not be discussed in the same conversation as the economic immigration.
The fact that the GDP per head has not improved seems to indicate that the mass immigration has not improved the UK economically

You do know that immigration is not the ONLY variable affecting GDP, right?

Otherwise as you said, would be an easy, easy win to have debates, publish the figures, show us the facts.

There are plenty of research organisations, both public and private, that have published such figures and shown people the facts. Generally they've been completely ignored. Unfortunately it's not an area of public conversation where facts are much of a priority.

I could provide links but I'm sure you're capable of googling. And I'll admit that someone posted some links upthread making the opposite case (that immigration is a net drain on the economy). I want to look at those properly first in case they change my mind. (Yes, that is actually possible on the internet).

I’m not sure I’m getting this. A 2019 map for the GE shows London as a patch of red within a lot of blue.

I agree with this in principle and I may be showing my ignorance here but don’t they come to claim asylum because they’re fleeing persecution/war? So isn’t it less safe for them to stay where they are and claim asylum there?

More to the point though, why was Cornwall still one of the poorest regions in the EU after 20 plus years of EU funding? Also, why is a Labour government seemingly giving less money to Cornwall than the Conservatives?

Or maybe because, like the Tories before them and like any party that has to actually RUN the country rather than stand on the sidelines and shout soundbites about it, they can't escape the demographic reality of a rapidly ageing population, with an increasing number of economically non-productive yet very expensive older people being supported by a decreasing number of economically productive yet less expensive working age people. And they know perfectly well that immigration is the only thing that has delayed the inevitable explosion of that particular time bomb.

But that's OK, because Farage is not ONLY going to massively reduce immigration, he's also going to massively cut taxes on the wealthy at the same time.

And the pensions, NHS treatment and social care for the stupid old racists voting for him are going to be paid from where, exactly?

Instead of trying to guess what people ‘seem’ to think or ‘seem’ to support, maybe take a look at recent past. Now that’s some facts for you.

Laugh at the electorate at your peril. Later cry at their decisions.

I agree with you, I assume you aren't standing on the sidelines! I can't stand Farage where did you get that impression.

There’s absolutely no way back for Labour on this issue. No ideas, no political will do anything; a weird combination of trying to look “tough” whilst simultaneously being terrified of doing anything that might make them look racist or intolerant.

The system is a total mess, and if I was putting money on the largest party after the next election, I’d put it on Reform.

@DemocraticRepublicI agree. To add they’ve spent too long using ‘dog whistle’ and ‘culture wars’ to attack any changes. Trying to look tough won’t get them Reform voters now.

Labour consider DH and I ‘rich’ as we both earn over £100k each, I can assure there’s nothing ‘tax efficient’ about having to hand over £6k month in tax.
If Labour considered you 'rich' you wouldn't be paying income tax, there'd be a tax avoidance scheme for you. That was my point - we tax earned income and penalise people who work for a living while protecting unearned and untaxed wealth.

You've made a really valid point. Labour was the party for the working classes; a party who strove to level the playing field and help lift those from disadvantaged backgrounds from poverty to success through education, alongside a robust welfare system to support those in need. This party doesn't exist anymore. I certainly don't recognise it. It's strayed from its roots and those who helped to build it, will now help to tear it down. There are lots of well intentioned posters on this forum but ultimately they just don't get it; their lives are so far removed from the impoverished squalid towns and cities where you have to fight fight fight for every single public resource as the local population swells to unsustainable levels. Reform will swoop in and take full advantage of this disquiet and take the next general election. No doubt about it.

@Keirawr I’m not sure what you’re talking about. You keep on mentioning people laughing. I’m not laughing at the electorate so I’m not sure what gave you the impression and I’m not trying to be sanctimonious either. It’s implied from what you’ve written about “lefties” that you aren’t left-wing.

You have a good point. I have no idea why that is after at least a billion euros, you’d think there’d be some improvement which is why I don’t think many people in Cornwall were even aware about it in the first place until they found out that they’d lost the funding.

I just looked at the odds and Reform are even with Labour. The Tories are a long way behind.

Most of London voted Remain, made no difference.

Labour morphed into the Lib Dems. Became a socially liberal party that shills for establishment interests.

Working class people aren't interested in liberal culture wars and woke ideology. They're patriots who care about their family and their country. The same bullshit with Democrats in America led to Trump (twice).

There needs to be a new left-wing party for working-class people. Labour have too much bad will at this point.

Well it can't be the extreme right of right Reform that heads that, can it!