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?

The no dependants rule has only affected students I think, and even there there were lots of exemptions. But it had an effect, so it's working. I suggested extending it to all categories and make the income threshold higher.

But I'm not sure people would stop supporting Reform unless Labour did something about asylum seekers.

Say again?

Labour should:

a) Express rejoin the EU to benefit from being able to share EU databases & resources on people entering and leaving the whole bloc

b) Join Schengen to remove the need to use small boats at all and derisk crossings for the human beings involved

c) Set up asylum processing so that it happens at the port of entry to Schengen - typically in the Mediterranean rather upon arrival in the UK

Why, what exactly have they done wrong? If you work with them you'll know that a high percentage have a really good reason for doing it.

And of course they dont get a job because they're not allowed to and don't get support to get them into work. UK benefits claimants are always complaining about benefits not being adequate so why do you think that migrants want to stay on them?

Immigration is a complete red herring drawing attention away from issues that, if given sunlight (which would happen more readily if our political parties weren't bankrolled by, and our news sources weren't owned by, (mostly foreign) billionaires), might negatively affect the rich and stop them getting even richer. Labour should stop drafting policies based on Daily Mail readers' comments and focus on actual problems like wealth inequality, the tax-dodging rich, wage erosion, housing, education, health etc.

For boat people set up an immigration center in Calais ( or nearby) Everyone who wants to come and claim asylum needs to apply there. If they qualify then they can come across on a proper ferry. . If they try to get over a on a small boat then that's an automatic no to being allowed to stay and those who do try it will immediately get arrested and detained until sent back within a short timescale. Not having documentation comes under the same

This makes it unprofitable for the smugglers if no one who used the small boats will be allowed to stay.

As for overstayers just do what other countries do. Actually take note ( by fingerprinting) those entering and leaving the country. Then the authorities know who is in the UK that shouldn't be.

@mumsnet why do you allow this type of response?
@Cursory, for all you know the poster might be dyslexic, what do you get from being so unpleasant?

Reform are talking about immigration because they know it gets votes. The nation has been convinced by rich men that immigrants are the reason public services are in the shit. But that's not the case. It's a load of bollocks Just like the Tories and their farcical Rwanda plans and "small boats". Tories did nothing to stop immigration because they knew it wasn't really a bad thing. Immigrants were just a great scapegoat and distraction. Get everyone freaking out about "small boats" while they quietly sell off public services, and take away are rights to protest. Labour should focus on rebuilding the NHS, tackling VAWG, rebuilding the social housing and welfare system, giving people economic opportunity through access to good work. That's what the people really want, they're just blaming immigrants for not having those things because that's what they've been told to do. I don't have much hope for Labour, they're far too centrist and slow. But I doubt Reform would do anything about immigration either, for the same reason the Tories didn't. And if they did, we would find ourselves in a worse position. Just like Brexit.

Exactly this 👏

Oh god not that indigenous British shite again!!!

There is a big difference between saying the British people are thick and racist, and that they are being lied to. We are being told by powerful politicians that the reason our economy, public services and housing market are in the shit is because of immigration. They are forcing a scarcity narrative that on the face of it sounds absolutely plausible. There are not many politicians out there right now who aren't pushing that narrative. Because they know people are suffering and they want a scapegoat so that the people of Britain don't look too closely at who actually profits from this mess.

Two things can be true at once though

They advocate single sex spaces. Good job given the latest court ruling. At least their argument for this was made unequivocally.

What they should be doing is making the moral and economic case for welcoming immigrants

I think it's gone well past the point where that will fly.

If immigration is really the problem why did the Tories make it easier - all while making that big song and dance about small boats and their totally ridiculous performance of pretending to fly people to Rwanda as if that was the answer? Because it's bullshit and they know it! It's just bullshit that serves a political purpose.

Some really don't like Labour being questioned do they. The first two replies say it all. 🤣

In addition they could offer 'working holiday visas' like they do for a number of commonwealth countries, two years to work and travel.

As a lot of asylum seekers are actually economic migrants, they go in to the black economy, a visa would allow them to work legally, find their own accommodation etc.

The visa could be fairly expensive, people will pay £10 000 to people smugglers to get a relative in to Britain to work and send money home. Offering a visa for £2-3000 to work for a number of years, send money home and then leave could cut that out.

As part of the visa process you could take photos, finger prints etc to make it easier to stop over stayers.

Ignoring Reform will get you the exact opposite of what you seek. Good luck. 👍

People don't really reject high immigration for economic reasons

Why do you say that?

Op asked about how to lower immigration not increase it

OP asked "what can labour do about immigration"

People this never ever learn anything. Clearly didn’t learn anything from Brexit. Anyone who calls the electorate a ‘moron’ should really consider the lack of their own intellect.

There’s no doubt that increasing population due to immigration is worsening the housing crisis. It’s not by far the only reason that there are housing shortages but it is one of them. Same with strain on other public services.

pretending it’s instead due to a conspiracy doesn’t help. It isn’t

Is this meant to be satire. Or are you still stuck in 2017 ‘Magic grandpa Corbyn’ land.

Labour are actually coming up with some good on paper proposals. However, how workable they will be might be depend on our alignment with Euro Convention on Human Rights. Deportees being allowed to remain then go on to rape women spring to mind.