Five events that could change the shape of British politics in 2016.

There are a few British citizens who commit crimes as well, petra and Hidge.
I cannot believe I am reading this today.

Don't often always agree with you DJ , but spot on.

Hope it hasn't affected you too much, Alea.

fullfact.org/factcheck/law/human_rights_criminals-47533

Something you should read, petra, before you say the same thing anywhere you shouldn't.

Ooh heavy sarcasm
Ah well, plus ca change . . . .,

No it wasn't. I don't do smiley faces.

Should have said thanks first.

It might lead to fewer misunderstandings/misinterpretations if you did.

Some things are totally unpredictable - a week is a long time in politics

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

hidge where alea uses the term 'cosmopolitan' you use the pejorative 'jabbering'. How many languages have you bothered to learn?
Are you aware of the large numbers of English-speaking immigrants to eg Spain who confine themselves to their ex-pat enclaves and never learn to communicate in the language of their adopted country?
Or is that a totally different situation?

Mcem, I speak French and German. I have tried to communicate in different countries, but have not done so in Spain so really cannot comment on that. I believe that if people want to go to live in a different country they should be forced to learn the language before they are allowed to stay. Just going away on holiday does not count but should still be encouraged.

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If I understand you Hidge you would send all the foreigners in Birmingham
back home, or out to sea in a target boat and kill them? Many, of course are third or fourth generation British, born here and with British citizen ship

Are you also suggesting that refugees who have fled their countries in fear of their lives and those of their families or who have been tortured or seen family members killed or tortured should be returned to their country of origin? Mallala Yousafzai, for example, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for speaking out on womens education and would certainly be in danger of being killed if she returned home, as would all her family. I am sure when she and her family are together out shopping they talk to each other in their native tongue even though they all seem to speak fluent English in interviews.

What about the German Jews in the 1930s, would you have sent them back because they 'jabbered' in German in the streets and many didn't speak English?

You might say that Hidge, personally I find it
a) untrue
b) offensive
c) prejudiced
d) racist

And if you feel like that you should stay in your white UKIP town or village as you will find precious few cities in Europe, let alone in Britain where there is a 100% monoglot population.

So hidge in your narrow-minded world are French and German not 'jabbering' because you can access them. Presumably though, Arabic would be classed as such?
I'm with alea as this is one of the most bigoted and offensive posts I've read on GN.
May I suggest that your opinions would be better received on a FB page I came across? It's entitled Britain First and I think you'd find more sympathetic readers there.

Monica and Alea, what I am really saying is that this is a very small country with little room for any more immigrants coming into it. It must be galling for people who have lived here all their lives, working hard and paying taxes, struggling to make ends meet and seeing immigrants being provided with houses and grants to stay here, no matter what their circumstances. I personally am not in that category, but I can see the anguish of those people and the U.K. is really their own country. No more immigrants, we have enough problems here as it is.

You're changing your tune - earlier you wanted to round up the foreigners and pack them off to sea, where they would no doubt perish.

Mcem. What I am saying is that French and German people are welcome here as long as it is only for a visit. However, it they take he trouble to learn our language that I would probably be more sympathetic. We are over populated.

Riverwalk. They should not have been allowed in in the first place.

To all of you. I have certainly got you going and all steamed up !!!

You're talking nonsense now - I don't know any French or Germans who don't speak English!

I think you're taking the piss.

Oh "yawn! "
That old chestnut. Admit it, you are against immigration full stop. Never mind who, why, when , just anyone (shock horror!) who doesn't match your narrow stereotype of a UK citizen.
The NHS and education would be on their knees and we would all be poorer for the absence of expertise at all levels, whether from Eastern European countries or the sub continent. In your mind you equate anybody who does not speak English as a sponger, ignorant of the fact that we have Cabinet ministers, shadow cabinet ministers, judges, bankers, stockbrokers, surgeons, doctors, university lecturers, nurses, teachers etc etc etc who by your narrow minded definition would be unwelcome. So don't start that old story about "hard working people who have paid their taxes" blah, blah and stop trying to backtrack from your totally unacceptable comments. One of which I see has now been deleted. Don't know why the others are still there, they are equally out of order.
Good grief, by your yardstick you would even have granjura sent home if she had the temerity to be speaking French to any of her children

Riverwalk. How many French and German people do you know ??

I'm not steamed just sad that such prejudice exists.

I meet many French and Germans here and they all speak good, if not impeccable, English.