Immigration (again...........................................)

[flip-flop]

As this government woefully underestimated the influx of Eastern Europeans last time around (10% of all people in Southampton are Poles according to the TV news last week), what is the best way to deal with the Romanians and Bulgarians?

I'm for refusing entry to all and to hell what the EU says.

[Oneeyedvic]

The whole problem with immigration (imho) stems from the benefit system in this country. Most of the 'anti immigration brigade' don't seem to actually mind people who come over here and do a 'proper' job and contibute to the country. Tehy do however have a problem with the people who come over here and milk the system.

So, to stem immigration, a new system is needed for benefits. Personally, I actually think that I agree (in principle) with JudgeJ in that benefits should not be handed out free and gratis. People need to contribute (and notice the word contribute not work) for their benefits - including disability allowance.

I am not sure exactly what can be done, but I am all in favour of getting all people (British nationals as well as foreigners) working or contributing to the country instead of milking it.

Not sure if it is practical or not, and I am sure that there are lots of potential problems, but that is my stance.

[jake-the-peg]

I might be out of date but I believe the system ( for unemployment benefit certainly ) was that within the EU benefit was imported from the country of origin.

Consequently someone from say Ireland could come to the UK and look for work whilst still effectively drawing Irish benefit over here.

It could be that that system has changed or that it's too complicated (and inconvenient ) for newspapers and TV to explain.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh I don't know I had a plumber once....

[Catso]

I don't disagree with the above, in principle, but there is also the issue of overcrowding. When is the country full to capacity? The more people we get, the more environmental damage.

Also the supporting infrastructure needed. It wouldn't be so bad if all the immigrants spread out evenly all over the country, but they don't.

I'm not for a 100% blanket ban, but it needs managing and controlling, not left as a free-for-all.

[jake-the-peg]

please justify your assertion that the country is "full to bursting"

Numbers would be good

[jake-the-peg]

correction "full to capacity"

[admarlow]

well take a walk around Hackney or try to buy a house and you will see what he means....

[sp1814]

Andy

There are hundreds of houses and flats for sale in Hackney. We would've bought one there, but Hackney doesn't have an underground station.

Are you trying to buy a place there? The prices are still reasonable....you should go for it.

[THAIBUS]

One out one in, say during 2006 Ten people move from Uk to Bulgaria then let ten move to Uk. Same for any countrie

[jno]

people have this weird idea that foreigners come to Britain because of the benefits. This is about as likely as going to live in Australia (as many Brits do) because you like their dole system. It just doesn't happen. People move to Britain because they think, rightly or wrongly, that they'll get rich, and that means they plan to work. Most of them in fact do get work, because there are so many jobs around that Brits won't do (teaching, nursing, plumbing).

And of course the process works both ways. As people from poor countries move to Britain, Brits rush to buy cheap housing in their coutnries: Croatia is the latest, I believe. Perhaps, in the interests of nationalism, everyone who has a home in the Dordogne should return to Britain and take up teaching work.

[admarlow]

thats B.S walk around any town center during the day and there will be tonnes of immagrants hanging around until their next dole cheque, have you ever been to Folkstone???

[Ed Strong]

Population of:

Australia - 20,264,082
Canada - 33,098,932
UK - 60,609,153 (and that's just the legal number!)

then compare the continent/country size per person.

[admarlow]

forget about overcrowding, what about the effect on the NHS, even if they did get a job the amount of tax they will pay (if at all!!) picking fruit will never match the amount they cost us in medical bills, plus they send all the money home damaging the economy.

[jake-the-peg]

London's population density is way less than that in Paris or even Madrid.

It's less than half that of New York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_selected_ cities_by_population_density

The numbers just don't support the idea.

[admarlow]

....and llook at the trouble they have with imagrants in Paris and France in general!!!!!

[sp1814]

admarlow

What's the answer?

[sp1814]

admarlow...hang on - are you saying that the immigrants are all going to have serious accidents requiring hospital treatment whilst picking fruit?

That's outrageous. Perhaps they need some form of safety equipment.

[admarlow]

you are only allowed in if:-
A) you have a skill that is beneficial to the country or in short supply
or
B)you can afford to support your self and afford not to work
C)you hare from a country NEXT to the UK and can prove that you deserve asylum

i.e. no more trekking across 10 EU countries to get to the UK to claim asylum, you stay in the 1st one you arrive in, eg the nearest country to the one you have been forced to leave.

[sp1814]

admarlow - do you think that there's a much higher incident of dole cheats amongst immigrants, than there are amongst UK born citizens?

Also, with regards to Eastern Europeans, how on earth can you tell they're immigrants (in the dole queues you look at)?