Immigration - can someone please explain it to me in simple terms?

[Illbeinthehottub]

So for as long as I can remember I’ve heard that there is a problem with immigration in the UK. There are headlines about it daily and it’s always an issue for government. It’s a big part of what Brexit was about.

I don’t personally understand all about it, what is the issue, is it simply than people feel immigration is putting additional pressure on services?

I’ve just seen another headline saying that Kier Starmer has lost control of the borders.

Conservatives were in power for 13 years, presumably immigration was still unacceptable to people. Now people are unhappy with Labour.

Can someone who understands explain to me a) what is the problem with immigration b) why hasn’t any government been able to have an acceptable policy that works c) is immigration just something for people to whinge about?

The immigrants living here are all given iPhones -no reason not to learn English.

What nonsense (the iphones).

But the learning English is so important. New immigrants need free access to 6m of full-time language school, with childcare provided, on the basis that failure to learn English will result in deportation.

The Tories under Boris Johnson opened the borders. 4 million came in in under 3 years (legally). Only 500k on work visas. So the benefit bill skyrocketed to a billion a month for migrants.

This was after Brexit which was ultimately about lowering immigration to the average voter.

Many believe that by virtue of a cosmic lottery that led to them popping out of their mother on a certain bit of dirt, they're entitled to first dibs.

That is how nation states work. Those whose ancestry dates back centuries on the 'bit of dirt' typically feel very attached to it, protective of it. Develop tacit relationships and cultural norms at the local, regional and national level that results in a functioning, cohesive society. Unless something happens to rapidly, radically change that society.

@Sash I lived and worked in Spain for a short while when I was younger. The quality of care homes and facilities were shocking compared to England. People who go to retire in Spain will go with funds not to sponge off the Spanish system.

Whilst that maybe your friends "circs" that isn't an average overview. There's an awful lot in your post.....

Nothing is addressing the concerns for the lack of housing here in England or the crisis of homeless on our streets. I'm sorry but there's a well known phrase "Charity starts at home!".

No they’re not.

As a person of Indian ethnic origin, I've personally not found that my race has held me back here.

Edited by MNHQ
@BlueKnickers - well good for you. My Indian colleague got called a P**i by a British homeless guy the other day. It’s not her fault she works really hard, pays for our NHS whilst he boozes his life away.
White working class boys have the worst academic outcomes here. They are held back by their own cultural values and their families. It is no bogeyman immigrant or Etonian to blame for that. Look at the Tommy Robinson crowd - we should be shipping them off. What exactly have they contributed?

Thanks, people have explained it really well in terms of the different types of immigration, the reasons governments have failed to do anything about it, and why communities are unhappy about it.

There are real problems in this country. Not just with immigration but with housing, the cost of living and education and aspirations for young people.

It doesn’t seem that any government has the will to do anything to improve things.

I would have to agree that there are large cohorts of British born people who have no aspiration and sit and moan and blame everyone else for their problems. Then there are others who are turning to gangs and lives of crime.

I see a lot of this and it’s very depressing.

I think they meant asylum seekers. In which case, many are given mobile 'phones. Sometimes by charities and in immigration removal centres, detained individuals are often given mobile 'phones by the centre itself.

I'm sorry she got called that. But then again her life is infinitely better than some random homeless person.

And yes I agree, the Indians in the UK have a lot better educational outcomes. We have better GCSEs etc. due to our work ethic and value of education.

It is best not to spread lies.

fullfact.org/online/asylum-seeker-free-iphone/

My two main concerns with “people in the country” regardless of who they are, is the volume (we’re constantly building houses on an island of finite size, roads are becoming so congested that any kind of travel is becoming an nightmare) and that they contribute to society, not live on handouts.

I don’t care who the people are or where they are from - born here or moved here.

It's also best not to state something is a lie when many asylum seekers ARE given mobile 'phones.

By charities, by social services, mental health services, physical health services.

And I immigration removal centres, the centre itself often provides mobile 'phones.

No, they don't get handed an iPhone off the boats but it's equally untrue to say no asylum seekers are given mobile 'phones when many are.

People in detention centres are only allowed phones without cameras, recording ability and Internet access (or very limited access via a secure network approved by the HO). So still not iphones as @Toootss erroneously stated.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-and-cameras-in-immigration-removal-centres/mobile-phones-and-cameras-in-immigration-removal-centres-accessible-version

People in detention centres are not given iphones. See the link I posted.

I guess them being given dumb phones or charities providing second hand smart phones to.asylum seekers who aren't detained doesn't have quite the same ring as:

The immigrants living here are all given iPhones -no reason not to learn English

Which is a lie.

Yes it's the same where I am. Overcrowded conditions in slum-like areas, large families with school age kids wandering round in the middle of the day when children should be in school, men loitering at cafés and barbers all day.

They're not the hardworking care workers, doctors etc. In a city with a lot of social problems it's not helpful. We hear that school roll numbers are falling but here, some schools are having to add temporary classrooms.

The footage of mostly men running to boats which are then over loaded and French police watching is quite something. It’ll push out any party in the end at a GE.

Yes, that's a terrible image.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we pay the French something akin to £500m to stop this?.

I searched for and looked at the link before posting my initial post thanks.

You do know that iPhones can have functions removed right? And can be old models, reconditioned and reused? And often are used in those circumstances by government agencies?

Why can't they just stay in France? It's perfectly safe, why risk death and spent £,000s to come to the UK?

If I was fleeing death I'd take the first point of refuge I got.

I wonder why. Could it possibly be they are getting things in Blighty they wouldn’t get in France?

Oh for goodness' sake. An iPhone with the functions removed is not an iPhone as most people would envisage it. You know that.

Anyway, no skin off my nose if you want to waste energy defending a lie that is used by xenophobes to stir up hatred.

Tbh. I doubt it's that safe whilst I agree there's a huge problem. No sane person would risk getting in a boat with babies and small children. To leave their perfectly "good and safe life". I feel for them I really do.