To think Starmer is utterly reprehensible

[Thegreyhound]

I know everyone will disagree, that’s ok- But I just have to say that Starmer today seems to have sunk lower than I ever believed he would with his incendiary ‘island of strangers’ and ‘incalculable damage’ rhetoric.
I find it particularly shocking because he has calculated this and decided it’s worth it to throw immigrants under the bus and essentially give all the ground in the debate to Farage, Tommy Robinson and Enoch Powell types.
Policy can be altered without making statements that are designed to impact race relations and make life even more difficult for people who are just trying to get along and make a living here.
Starmer is vile. This country does indeed feel like an island of strangers these days but the strangers are not the immigrants :(

I live in a high immigration area. My city is a wonderful, vibrant, welcoming one which has welcomed immigrants for decades from Pakistan, India, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and many more. There have been no riots, communities co-exist well. They all speak English fluently and are now raising their children here, integrating well with their peers.

I have also seen the other side of immigration, notably modern slavery. People living in dire conditions, exploited by unscrupulous landlords.

It is quite possible to simultaneously believe in the many benefits immigrants bring to the country, as well as believe that uncontrolled immigration and exploitation of vulnerable people cannot continue. I am sorry for those seeking refuge and believe the majority of them are genuine cases. But allowing people to profit from their misery by not attempting to address it is not the answer either.

I think Starmer is right to try to tackle the issue, otherwise the far right will continue to take further hold in this country. Yes, it may well seem that he's pandering to Reform, but the longer game is preventing that ideology take a firmer foothold - and we've seen that Reform are exceptionally good at sewing discord and division. What I do question, though, is whether Starmer is going about it the right way or is simply taking the easy pickings that won't make a real difference. Time will tell i suppose, and i do think we need to remember that a parliamentary term is 5 years, not 10 months.

👏100% this. ^

Why are you commenting on immigration in the UK then?

It’s what the government calls it. They have a department of social security.

That is such a ridiculous generalisation. I can rebut that anecdotally that by saying we took on a 17 year old white apprentice recently who is possibly one of the most hard working and competent people I have ever met in my life. he is incredible, wise beyond his years and an sure he will go very very far in life. Making ridiculous generations about Brits and race and non Brits just fuels this fire of unsubstantiated rhetoric.

Although your border policy is hardline and not changing?

Reform would be happy with similar outcomes for illegal migration / crossings.

@Thegreyhound knows exactly what that poster meant.

The DSS was replaced by the DWP in 2001. One can only assume you’re not posting in good faith.

Where do these figures of 500,000 come from
The Govn stats and even Migration Observations figures don’t come anywhere near those.

What the source please

Re people saying their social decay is caused by the British estate dweller.
It's intresting that they are 'source' of social decay for some and not a product of it.

Poor housings/health. High levels of substances. Single mums in survival mode try to feed and clothe while dealing with higher levels of mental health that come from shit circumstances. It's an up hill battle.

And austerity ( another chance to milk the collective endrochrom)hitting them hard for 15+ plus years.

Alot of migrants aren't ' the poor or underprivileged 'of their country like the council estate locals.
So is it really fair to compare 'lazy' brits to 'hardworking' xyz.
Why shouldn't people who grandparents fought In the war get to inherit a little bit more than this.
From many places like India and Asia, migration can be a 'status' thing too. looked up to by extended family and communities as 'having made it'.

In almost celebrity/Instagram/Mark Wright on his Essex thrown type way.
So why push ideas like 'equality and equity ' in this way when some people are actively seeking clout/status/standing.
The want for materialism and stature.
And to be 'better' than those left behind.

People also don't seem to advocate for their country of origin. Just themselves once here.

Lots of hardworking migrants are economically privileged within their own culture. They aren't 'starting from the bottom' so to speak.

There is awareness of privileged in this circumstance, and its not looked down apon or shamed.

I don't think we are destroying the class system by living with mass migration and multi culturism. Just gaining a lot more intricacies that are hard to navigate.

No, they don’t.

It’s DWP.

The result of the poll here is heart sinking.
Back to the old Brexit days and the ‘Go back home’ placards from TM.

And the old ‘oh but not you…’ thrown around too. 😢😢

Nit looking forward to the backlash.

I’m old style- fair enough.

Nasty - you reflect your own words.

Why is it so upsetting to you that people might want immigration to be controlled?

@BlueTitShark The tide is turning, thankfully.

No, Butter, I’ve just found that your only argument is that anyone who is against uncontrolled immigration is a racist.

Craziest thing is, who on earth does he think he is attracting or impressing with this stuff? Does he honestly believe that Reform voters are going to believe Labour on this? “Ooooh I haven’t been impressed with Labour on immigration the past 20 years but that former human rights lawyer Starmer sounded serious to me!”. Does he think the (few remaining) died in the wool Tory voters are going to jump ship?

Apart from anything else it’s a serious tactical error and drags Labour into the sewer with Reform and Tories, when the Tories were happily destroying themselves. For every one Tory/Reform he might appease he’ll lose two normal Labour voters.

I think your point is sensible and well made, @user1471453601. We should value care workers and pay them a decent wage, so people already living in the UK want to become care workers.

Also, it is my understanding that, as a whole, immigrants to the UK are net contributors to the system - ie. as a group, they contribute more to the state coffers than they take out in benefits, healthcare etc. Sadly they are a much easier target for politicians than the big businesses and super-rich who avoid paying a fair amount of tax.

But morally shouldn’t we be looking to ensure jobs go to the existing population- which, I might add, include the children of previous immigrants who are born as British citizens.

Because the rules are stopping her from coming back to the U.K. because her SPOUSE would struggle to get a visa….

Immigration rules dint affect just people in the U.K., immigrants or ‘natives’.
They also affect fully British people that had the bad idea to fall in love with a foreigner. How dare they hey?

They brought those laws in under the now resoundingly thrashed right wing governments.

I’d rather it was British people doing the jobs.

Again, did she not consider this? Or does she think her spouse should be allowed to come here and live without contributing?