The EU - we are on the home straight folks!

www.foe.co.uk/blog/7-things-eu-has-done-our-environment

We previously had a "highly skilled migrant" system which allowed people to come here if they had certain qualifications. This is similar to the Aus and NZ systems - if your qualifications are on THE LIST you can get a work visa and so can your family members. The coalition government ditched this system so that most commonwealth citizens, or other non-EU, have to be offered a job before they can enter UK with permission to work. This was part of the attempt to reduce net migration. There are a range of exceptions e.g. aus and NZ under 30s - i think this is a reciprocal agreement whereby younger people can travel and work for a while. There are others who have a right of residence based on other bits of legislation to do with their grandparents etc.

I have been reading the report produced by The Friends of the Earth. It is astounding what the EU has done for our environment. They are extremely worried should we leave as so much of what we have achieved will be reversed.

Corbyn has changed his mind.
Cameron has changed his mind.
Johnson has changed his mind.
I think I put a link to how recently Johnson changed his mind.
Have you read it, Jalima?

www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/briefings/deportations-removals-and-voluntary-departures-uk

Figures on here for deportations.

Why do you think the Australian family would be allowed to stay if the UK had a points system? The plans I've seen would suggest that they wouldn't. Don't forget that the UK government itself made up the rules which have resulted in the threatened deportation of this family. Theresa May could overturn the ruling, if she wanted.

We do not discriminate against Commonwealth citizens.
Commonwealth citizens being sent back to Commonwealth countries get more publicity, that's all.
I agree this family should not be sent back, but neither should all the 18 year olds who have been in this country since they were children but only had limited leave to remain.

It's the system that descriminates against all of them that's wrong.
However, if you want to reduce immigration, it's the perfect place to start, to get rid of all those who do not have the correct paperwork.

So why do you think the UK would be better off, if it left the EU, rosesarered?

Why do JC's past views matter? He's stated quite clearly that he sees faults with the EU, but that on balance he thinks the UK would be better off remaining. Making good political decisions is all about balance.

I accept that being concerned about immigration isn't racist, but that doesn't mean that there aren't racists amongst those who say they are concerned about immigration.

From my personal experience, I can well believe that 25% of the population is racist and that some of them are quite hard-line racists.

I am concerned about immigration too.

I am concerned that an Australian family and a Canadian family - encouraged to come here by the Scottish Parliament to help re-populate the Highlands and working or running a successful business, are to be deported.

How sad that we seem to discriminate against Commonwealth citizens.
Actually, it makes me very
Alex Salmond is too.

It is difficult, though, to find out what JC's previous views on the EU were as he has deleted some of them.
However, this ITV link gives some of them.

It is just interesting to note; anyone can change their mind and I know other people who have - but knowing WHY could persuade other people too.

www.itv.com/news/2016-03-05/jeremy-corbyn-accused-of-trying-to-hide-eurosceptic-past/

Jess Passions running high, yes, I get that, but it was getting a bit much! Also, remember that those of us on here who want to leave are also very concerned about the country, which is why we want to exit in the first place, we care about things just as much as the Remainers do.

"We can't rely on the Tory Government to defend workplace rights. Leave supporters have stated they want to water down workers' rights and rip up protections against discrimination, exploitation and injustice. The next Labour government will work with our allies to strengthen workers' rights, and stop migrant workers being exploited and local workers being undercut.

We are overwhelmingly for remain, because we believe the European Union has brought investment, jobs and protection for workers, consumers and the environment.

But also because our membership offers a crucial route to meeting the challenges we face in the 21st century, on climate change, on restraining the power of global corporations and ensuring they pay fair taxes, on tackling cyber-crime and terrorism, on ensuring trade is fair with protections for workers and consumers and in addressing refugee movements.

Britain will be stronger if we co-operate with our neighbours in facing those challenges together."

Reasons for staying in, as said by Jeremy Corbyn.

Exactly, GandTea. I'll leave them to it.

daphnedill, of course. The abbreviation has been used many times before...

I find the debate regarding racism most disturbing. Firstly the majority of the population are not racist, IMO.

Secondly being concerned about the numbers of people coming into Britain is not a racist concern, it is about numbers and economics. If this is racist, then I am racist as I think we need immigration and it works both ways.

The Migration Observatory says it's impossible to work out, because people do not tell the truth on this question. Saying yes to are you racist could get you in court. Even UKIP do not admit to being racist. They couch their statements in terms of migration.

Who is dd and how does s/he know? What qualifications?

So you think that there's no racism at all within the UK population?

Ooops! I not IO

IO haven't confirmed it. I've put forward a figure which professional market research companies suggest. Personally, I think 25% is 25% too many.

I didn't offer any figures, but dd has confirmed that 75% of the UK population does not hold racist views. I rest my case.

Snap, dj.

How do you know how many people are racist, Ana? Few people are likely to admit to racism if surveyed. Sometimes people's real attitudes come out even on a site like GN. They're often the ones who start their posts with 'I'm not racist but....' and then go on to say that their best friend's cousin married a lovely black man from Jamaica. ;-)

For what it's worth, the main market research companies estimate that approximately 25% of the UK population holds racist and/or antisemitic views - not just concern about immigration.

Where do you get your figures from, Ana? How do you know it's not the majority who are concerned about immigration who are racist?