Cameron - friend of Muslim women?

I do know some who are racist and want to send people back 'where they came from' (happily not many) but I'm not talking about individuals Annie im talking about us, as Brits, as a nation(s?)

I deplore the way some Brits don't choose to integrate into Spanish life, as an example, and I've witnessed it and know they are missing out on so much. But they are not an example to follow.

'We' as a nation, invited the people on the Windrush over here, gave a home to the Ugandan refugees and those fleeing Hitler. Don't denigrate that side of Britain.

Anyway, the GC won't pick themselves up from school so I'm off now and I'll hear many, many languages spoken in the playground as I wait with others, so that's a good sign

And we accept the Chinese because they make good fish and chips !

We do not celebrate integration Anya, the first arrivals on the windrush arrived in 1948, in the sixties we still had signs in Windows - no blacks, no dogs, look at the census returns and read - Irish Row,in towns throughout the country, again signs - no Irish. The Jews were welcomed after the war, what of before? Yes - no Jews

Yesterday a report that immigrants homes were being attacked , easily found because the company who rents the property's had painted the doors red.

Do you intergrate with the travelling community ? Let us not pretend, whilst there are British people who are willing to accept immigrants racism is still strong in this country

Elegran sums it up and I agree , the British do not willingly intergrate in other countries , yet Petra told me I was living in a bubble because I said the very same. She based this criticism on the fact she had lived in other countries I have not. I do listen to people, children and grandchildren of the windrush generation is one example . After several decades they had trouble buying houses, would make an appointment to view, turn up, decide to buy the property but suddenly the property had been sold by the time they got back to the estate agents, it is not I who live in a bubble

The way that British abroad in Spain and other places can completely ignore the language and the ways of the people they live amongst is an annoyance to Spaniards and shows a bad attitude by the expats. It is not something that should be encouraged here. If I lived in a Welsh-speaking area of Wales I would try to learn some Welsh. I moved from the South of England to Fife - what they speak there is a language very similar to English but with a lot of words that hark back centuries. I learnt pretty quickly to know and use many of these.

Integration doesn't mean giving up their own traditions, and becoming identical to their hosts, it means taking a step (or two) toward the ways and language of the country you have moved to - presumably for life and not just a short stay.

This is the United Kingdom Annie and we celebrate integration. All other migrants, from the Normans, to the Hugenots, to those escaping Hilter, or brought over on the Windrush or chucked out of Uganda, have managed to integrate.

Indeed the Chinese now make the best fish and chips and Chicken Tiki Marsala is a national dish.

Integration is good IM H O

That doesn't mean to say that their culture has to disappear. Yesterday was Chinese New Year, The Nottinghill Festival celebrates something or other, Hogmany, Burns Night (next Monday) and Hallowe'en have moved south, Eid and Diwali are certainly celebrated around here.

Any excuse for a party....and why not??

Viva la difference and viva unité

Petra, I live in a bubble whilst you are so worldly, I am in awe

Why is there this need to want people to integrate , I have a nephew who is an estate agent in Spain, not all British migrants integrate there, some ask for areas were the majority are English . My sister in law gave an interview to the Sunday times on her decision to build and live in a house Turkey, she was asked why she chose an area where she had no English neighbours ,

It is natural to choose to live with people of your own culture and who speak your mother tongue , not everyone does but many do.

The report yesterday of immigrants having their homes attacked simply because they are immigrants , hardly an invite to integrate

You don't know a lot, Annie except what's going on in your bubble.
Re. Non Spanish living in Spain. If you need a translator YOU pay for it.
If you want decent health care YOU pay for it. If you have children in school, YOU for it.
Basically, what I'm telling you, is, when you live abroad you PUT A LOT INTO THE ECONOMY. Unlike some who come to this country and just take.
I have lived in 2 other countries so I know a little bit about it.

You are not alone Elegran. I have even been told which political party I support when I don't support any!

Elegran, your post was uncalled for and was also untrue

But it works just the same when others do it, AB, when they assume that because a poster says X, they must also believe Y - and then rant at them for the Y. That has been done to me very often. What I say has been misinterpreted and the misinterpretation taken as what I meant and condemned. I have been called prejudiced when I challenged another poster's view (which was definitely prejudiced, though for the best of motives and intentions and not vicious)

I do believe that I write fairly clearly, so anything I post goes as far as it says, and no more.

With respect assuming what a poster would say and posting it as fact followed by another poster who also assumes and supports is unjust , unfair and wrong , and does not make for the chance of a discussion.

Silly and I can't understand why we go overboard to assist those who refuse to learn the language and integrate. Which other countries do as much as us? Perhaps more to the point, how many of the countries they come from would welcome us in the same way?

Having worked in the NHS and seen the ridiculous amount of money spent on translators, forms & signage,I believe all incomers should make an effort to learn at least basic English. I am appalled at how this country bends and twists to accommodate immigrants, often to the detriment of the native population, and before I get accused of racism, if I wished to live in another country I would prioritise learning the language and fully accept the mores of that country. I cannot understand why some immigrants flee their native land because they are unhappy and then set about trying to change this one into the one they have left.

Spot on Elegran!

every not very!

You give very impression that you could and would, anniebach

Would I Elegran ?

If they said that ALL people entering the country should take English lessons, willy nilly, you would be complaining about that.

If they said that those lessons should be free you would cite other things that the money could be spent on.

If they said that they would have to pay, you would be up in arms about that.

If they said that the cost would be taken from big business in the area where the incomers were settling, you would ask "What about the obscene profits businesses in other areas are making? Shouldn't they be paying for free home-making lessons for deprived British young people?"

If David Cameron offered to pay out of his own pocket (little chance!) you would say he was doing it to buy votes for the next election.

Why only Muslims?

I think Luckylegs9 has very succinctly put exactly what a lot of people think (including me). I don't think the govt are worrying much about the well educated people who come here:they will easily find their own way JessM. No reason why the men shouldn't also attend English classes if they don't speak it well enough to work and contribute to our society rather than passively expect to be supported by us.

Most migrants and asylum seekers want to learn English. Many have excellent English already of course. If, for instance, a young professional British man of Indian heritage marries an Indian girl, she'll probably have a degree and that will have been taught and examined in English. Many Indian wives I've met have better English that many Brits.
There is a subset of all foreign brides and bridegrooms who don't. Some are arranged marriages and some not.
A girl might marry a boy in Thailand but it does not mean he can automatically come and settle here.
Its worth reading the requirements:
www.visalogic.net/uk/uk-spouse-visa/4/103?pp=1369&gclid=CP7E1KnEusoCFUuNGwodtJEDFg

So it is clear that you have to speak a certain amount of English (pass a standard test) to get a visa. What PM is saying that they need to improve to a certain standard.

So imagine a daughter of yours, luckylegs falling for a Japanese chap, for instance. And marrying him here in the UK. But before she can go and live with him in Japan she has to 1/ learn basic Japanese and pass a test and 2/ improve her Japanese pretty darn quick, or she'll get deported.
So she lands up somewhere in Japan and her husband goes out to work. She's not got a car and she has got to find a suitable class, negotiate public transport and learn a new language at a required pace to pass an exam. All the signage is in Japanese only and very few people speak English. Hmm.

I don't know why Cameron is focussing on women - there are men who come in here on spousal visas as well, with only basic English. Any thoughts folks?

If this isn't being enforced on migrants from Europe then it is a form of racism , why only one section of migrants ?

If this was to be enforced on British migrants in places such as Spain i think we would see rather a lot coming back

What is wrong with that, if they want to stay, learn the language. I think except for those under threat, a condition of coming here should be to speak the language before being considered. Those under threat and flee here, should make it a priority to learn English in order to work and live along side their neighbours. Can you tell me what is the problem with doing that. It seems a small price to pay to integrate into the country you try so hard to enter and it is vital they do that. If it is too much of a problem they will have to consider just why they are here in the first place.