So much for controlling immigration!

As for Italy, I can understand their attitude. The southern tip has been the main point of entry from Africa for many years and they've been overwhelmed. They can't cope and there's been a lot of crime.

Little boats in the middle of the night will be going the other way this time - lucrative business for some.

^ It's not France's responsibility to stop people coming to the UK. They only do it because we're in the EU and UK border control is currently in Calais.^

I said this not long after the referendum result was known and have, from time to time, pointed it out since then. I'm glad that other people agree with me The French could buy them all ferry tickets once we've left the EU... much cheaper than intensive security at Calais...

It has also been pointed out many times that a prime reason for these refugees wanting to come to the UK is that they have relatives or contacts here and that they speak English.

Exactly growstuff. If anyone has ever been to Calais recently and stayed over for a day or two- s/he would know that 1000s of special force police, armed to the teeth, are permanently stationned in Calais- staying in local Hôtels- from all over France. They patrol night and day, non stop- armed, with dogs, and they are not your average copper, but CRS- highly trained and tough guys. There are layers upon layers of very high fences, dug deep into the ground, angled, with electric currents and several rows of razor wire ... then Border c hecks by both the French and the British, with specialised guards, dogs and equipment- checking cars, vans, lorries, etc, to stop immigrants crossing.

All that will go if we leave with No Deal - immigrants from all over the world know this - and are waiting for when it will be much much easier.

That's what's confusing me about some of these comments jura. It's not France's responsibility to stop people coming to the UK. They only do it because we're in the EU and UK border control is currently in Calais. After Brexit, people can get on a cross Channel ferry and the moment they land in the UK, they can apply for asylum.

It's impossible for us to comprehend M0nica but absthame wasn't referring to the Italian government she was referring to ours and thank God, we haven't behaved that way.

What does illegal immigration and/or asylum seeking have to do with leaving the EU?

Being in the EU doesn't make it any easier for people to reach or enter the UK.

Could it possibly be that people just don't like foreigners? Surely that's not why they voted to leave the EU. That would have been truly stupid.

[confused}

Once a person is on UK soil, even if he/she entered the country illegally, and has applied for asylum he/she is no longer an illegal immigrant. He/she is an asylum seeker and is in the UK legally.

well, that is an argument. And of course, until now, the French Government has, with financial support from UK and EU- have made massive efforts and put huge manpower and infrastructure to stop anyone crossing from France to UK. That is part of the EU agreement. When we leave, especially if No Deal- the manpower (and it is massive, armed to the teeth, 24/7) and the massive fences, double, angled, with several rows of razor wire, etc- will go, and it will be a free for all. The French will be only be too pleased to let them go. Have you ever been to Calais quizqueen?

No one needs to escape from France.

smileless, Look at the actions of the Italian government turning away all ships/boats bringing immigrants and refusing to let them land. What does that do other than leave them at sea to be drowned or returned to the country they fled?

These women will probably replace some of the EU ones that have gone or will soon go. Now, that would not be a problem for me at all- but I am sure that this is not what many Brexiteers had in mind.

No they didn't.

The very bright 16-50 year olds I know in UK are all looking for a way out. They do not see their future in a broken and isolated UK.

I have mentionned it before, but perhaps the biggest negative impact on the UK will be the ensuing 'brain and entrepreneurial drain'.

These women will probably replace some of the EU ones that have gone or will soon go. Now, that would not be a problem for me at all- but I am sure that this is not what many Brexiteers had in mind.

The level of ignorance and bigotry about immigration, refugees and asylum seekers never ceases to surprise me.

For the past 8 weeks, a close friend has been visited by two carers, morning and evening, every day. The carers are all African, they are all women escaping all kinds horrors in their homelands. They are unfailingly cheerful, professional and compassionate. Without them, who would be providing this level of care.

My friends experience is not unusual. Most agencies that supply carers, either as live in or home visitors, are staffed by people who were not born in the UK.

I don't know anyone who has recieved similar services, or who has worked with asylum seekers or refugees, who hasn't been moved by their stories and pleased that our country has been able to help them.

For those who say we can't afford it, we're overcrowded etc, I say you're wrong. We can't afford not to. What kind of country would we live in if we refused to offer help to those in need. Many people don't want to stop in their first country because they have family or cultural links with the Uk or they are from countries colonised by the Uk so there are links with language, faith and so on.

They will continue to flood in here though, as long as we conveniently provide a water taxi service

I wish they wouldn’t as they are likely to drown.

God help us really. They are people they have families, hopes, fears, preferences, as we all do.

ngaio1. Don't worry about correcting your typos, we all got your message quite clearly

Thanks mcem that explains why he was hustled away from the cameras!

"send messengers to kick them and in some cases help drown them or return them to certain death" I hope you have some factual evidence to back that up absthame.

I grew up in a country that I was justly proud of. I had neighbours from Germany, Poland, Hungary etc who had been given sanctuary here as they escaped the horrors of the Nazis. I had had friends whose parents had been in the concentration camps

Later I had other neighbours and friends who had escaped the activities of the communists, refugees from apartheid, Amin, facist governments in South America, or persecution in variou Asian nations and so on.

Britain was their safe haven we welcomed, fed, housed and cared for them.

But today I have lost much of my pride in my nation and my people who have become a peoples who care more about the cost of our caring and no longer value the acts of decency and humanity. The bean counters determine our moral standards, not our traditions, religions or our hearts.

As someone else has said we are no longer like the Good Samaritan, we are not even like those who walk by and ignore those in need; no we go further and send messengers to kick them and in some cases help drown them or return them to certain death, using the logic that if we don't see it then we are not to blame for what happens...... But we are

Freedom for Irish people to move to the UK has nothing to do with the EU.

Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man are all part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) that long predates the EU. Residents in all those areas can travel to and from each other and work and study in each other's countries without any control. Brexit will have no effect on it.

Yes Gill I agree that there were some, maybe many for whom immigration was their reason.

I've been reading a lot of the threads on this forum the last few days and there have been many posts sniping that few, if any who voted for Brexit have come on to have their say. But is it any wonder?

Accusations of racism, of not caring about our children's and GC's futures, of being at best ill informed and at worse just plain stupid and of not knowing what we voted for. Of being so financially affluent that as long as we're OK we don't give a s..t about anyone else.

Is it any wonder that the country is so bitterly divided when some seem to have lost the capacity to accept that not everyone feels the way they do?

should read know and not now. Social care and not car. PC is hot and bothered!!

Amen to that man's T shirt.

Smileless, no doubt you had your reasons to vote as you did, but it cannot be denied that many used the immigration question as their reason.