Immigration and migrants

Aveline

It's much more complex than just blaming everything on politicians. Also a lot depends on where you live. I suspect that it's pretty scary living in some areas. Did you see the photos last weekend if a whole London street blocked by Muslims men praying? The luckily, aborted, plan to take over the running of schools in Birmingham a few years ago was scary. Demands for prayer room in schools etc. Other ethnic and religious groups don't do this. I think it's understandable that some people are uncomfortable with the sheer number of Muslims moving here.

But that’s a different issue Aveline, because the Muslim protesters and those wanting to manage schools are British citizens and legal migrants. There is a huge political dimension to this.

Brilliant post, @Cossy. I agree wholeheartedly and with the comments from @wheniwasyourage too. Thank you.

Cossy

Milliedog

It's easy to say 'They're human beings. Let them come to us'. And many of us did exactly that and hosted Ukrainians. Those Ukrainians are now beginning to look for homes here, but rental properties are so difficult to come by. Rents in my daughter's area are now astronomical. Not all who come here are trained health care professionals, so it has had an impact on hospital waiting lists. In my grandson's class, he's one of a tiny handful of children whose 1st language is English. That must have had a big impact on both teachers and pupils. So I'll finish with this. It sounds great, kind and open hearted to say 'Let all who want to come to the UK come.' But only say it if you don't care that there's not enough housing for your children or grandchildren. Only say it if you want your hip replacement to be a dot on the horizon. Only say it if you are willing to open your home to someone for at least 6 months. We did that and it was a privilege, but it also meant sharing a kitchen with another woman and it being extremely difficult to have family come to stay because of the bedroom situation. So, it may be useful to think about the practicalities of completely open borders before you offer our country to one and all.

I’ve never, not even once, stayed “let them all come”.

I’ve said consider that these people are human, to dehumanise them is to forget completely that there but for the grace of god go I. We are fortunate enough to live in the free democratic country due to an accident of birth only.

Let’s remember that.

I loathe the face that these humans rush their own lives, and that of their families, and sometimes spend their life savings, to get into small unsafe boats or large airless lorries. The only people benefitting long term are the human traffickers.

So they are spending their life savings to get to the UK knowing full well that they will arrive penniless, through their own choice, and expect us to pick up the tab. Sounds about right!!

It's much more complex than just blaming everything on politicians. Also a lot depends on where you live. I suspect that it's pretty scary living in some areas. Did you see the photos last weekend if a whole London street blocked by Muslims men praying? The luckily, aborted, plan to take over the running of schools in Birmingham a few years ago was scary. Demands for prayer room in schools etc. Other ethnic and religious groups don't do this. I think it's understandable that some people are uncomfortable with the sheer number of Muslims moving here.

Curtaintwitcher

[Message deleted by GNHQ].

To single out a specific cohort as you have, is both racist and untrue.

There are many Muslims throughout England, I have worked with many countrywide, some are even married to British people.

Be concerned about mass immigration by all means, but don’t blame specific races/religions for our own politicians failings.

Why do people not grasp that people who enter the UK legally, and people who were born in the UK, regardless of their skin colour, ethnic background and religion are part of our society. It’s not ‘illegal migrants’ who are protesting for goodness sake, it’s British people.
Just look at the numbers of people legally moving to the UK every year - it’s as plain as the nose on your face, but still you don’t see it. If the UK is ‘too crowded’ then address that with the government.

Agree!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Cath9

Has anyone come to live in the UK going through the legal way by paying and passing tests that one also pays for?
If so, what is your opinion?

Yes, we have an Australian relative, paying herself for a Visa and to take an English test before she could work in the NHS.

Milliedog

It's easy to say 'They're human beings. Let them come to us'. And many of us did exactly that and hosted Ukrainians. Those Ukrainians are now beginning to look for homes here, but rental properties are so difficult to come by. Rents in my daughter's area are now astronomical. Not all who come here are trained health care professionals, so it has had an impact on hospital waiting lists. In my grandson's class, he's one of a tiny handful of children whose 1st language is English. That must have had a big impact on both teachers and pupils. So I'll finish with this. It sounds great, kind and open hearted to say 'Let all who want to come to the UK come.' But only say it if you don't care that there's not enough housing for your children or grandchildren. Only say it if you want your hip replacement to be a dot on the horizon. Only say it if you are willing to open your home to someone for at least 6 months. We did that and it was a privilege, but it also meant sharing a kitchen with another woman and it being extremely difficult to have family come to stay because of the bedroom situation. So, it may be useful to think about the practicalities of completely open borders before you offer our country to one and all.

I’ve never, not even once, stayed “let them all come”.

I’ve said consider that these people are human, to dehumanise them is to forget completely that there but for the grace of god go I. We are fortunate enough to live in the free democratic country due to an accident of birth only.

Let’s remember that.

I loathe the face that these humans rush their own lives, and that of their families, and sometimes spend their life savings, to get into small unsafe boats or large airless lorries. The only people benefitting long term are the human traffickers.

Oreo

Legal migration is one thing and illegal migration is another.
Stop mixing them up.
Calling other points of view other than your own ignorance and bigotry shows how intransigent you are.

This!

Well said!

Typo "is" not "id"

Germanshepherdsmum

I entirely agree utterbliss. I’m sorry you’re suffering. We are spending vast sums on migrants - not only housing and feeding them, but providing medical care, education for children in already crowded schools, policing and border force, processing asylum applications, court time spent on appeals, legal aid paid to their lawyers, provision of translators. The list is endless. People talk of those who have settled being of use to the community, but I read just today that only 55% of settled asylum seekers are in employment, as opposed to 88% of economic migrants (no, I can’t provide a link). And of course every home occupied by asylum seekers is a home no longer available to anyone else. This just cannot be allowed to continue. People born and raised in this country are suffering the consequences. Utterbliss is one such. Talk, which is what Starmer offers, is not enough.

Well said. Germanshepherdsmum

sazz1

We have thousands of British citizens living on the streets, in vans and cars, and sleeping on friends sofas. Yet people arriving on boats are given hotel rooms with full board on arrival and on the Bibby Stockholm boat with a gym Internet full board a bus into town etc. and they complain. Most but not all of the men arriving are economic migrants from poor countries. The smugglers make vast sums of money from this and people often drown.
We should deport them all and put our own homeless on the Bibby Stockholm or in the hotel rooms. There is a housing crisis here in the UK. Homeless especially ex veterans should get priority.

How many id "most"?

Words really are cheap, aren't they?

Barbadosbelle

..

I'm sorry but can't agree with your over sentimental comments.

The majority of these illegal immigrants are NOT fleeing from unsafe war torn countries but are young economic migrating males.

They've already passed through wonderful countries that millions of us save all year to be able to spend a couple of weeks in one of them.

You see them arrive with mobiles far more expensive and modern than mine and with state of the art trainers on their feet.

If they don't like where they come from then they should stay and work and campaign for changes there.

You should protect your homeland and family as my Grandpops did in WW2 - not run away leaving your mothers and sisters to fend for themselves.

I'm not unhappy that the threat of Rwanda is making many leave for Ireland. Maybe it will help ease the housing crisis and allow my young employees a chance to get a small home of their own from the Council that has for years prioritised immigrants over them.

Most people I know agree with me. You might not and that's your perogative. But as far as I'm concerned you looks after your family, friends and neighbours first. When that's all good then you can spread your net further.

..

I agree 100% Barbadosbelle and semperfidelis
I wish someone would have given me £3.000 when I started out.
The cost of all this must be millions and millions.
The government keep saying they haven't got money for this and that but can find it for all these illegal immigrants, and yes they are illegal.
Charity begins at home in my book.
In my opinion instead of being rescued off of the boats and brought here, they should sail right back to France.

zakouma66

Why?

Why not?

Though I must say, someone who is reporting someone else, for a hate speech, I would be very wary of you in real life.

Thank you Cossie. So uplifting to hear a humane response to the immigrant situation- which has largely been caused by unjust wars and interference by the UK, USA and other Western governments in other countries. Also the welcome to Ukrainian refugees -offering homes, education and work - contrasts strongly with the demonisation of other migrants/ refugees and highlights the hypocrisy of this government.

Yes, well. Legal or illegal, they need to be housed and accommodated somewhere.

Problem is - where are they all going to go?

No one ever suggests or can come up with a solution to this problem.

They are obviously not happy staying in hotels or on boats.

So: anyone have any practical ideas.?
If so, forward onto Rishi Sunak and co.

What annoys me even more are the protesters against deportation. How many of them have 1 spare bedroom but wouldn't offer a bed to an immigrant?

It's easy to say 'They're human beings. Let them come to us'. And many of us did exactly that and hosted Ukrainians. Those Ukrainians are now beginning to look for homes here, but rental properties are so difficult to come by. Rents in my daughter's area are now astronomical. Not all who come here are trained health care professionals, so it has had an impact on hospital waiting lists. In my grandson's class, he's one of a tiny handful of children whose 1st language is English. That must have had a big impact on both teachers and pupils. So I'll finish with this. It sounds great, kind and open hearted to say 'Let all who want to come to the UK come.' But only say it if you don't care that there's not enough housing for your children or grandchildren. Only say it if you want your hip replacement to be a dot on the horizon. Only say it if you are willing to open your home to someone for at least 6 months. We did that and it was a privilege, but it also meant sharing a kitchen with another woman and it being extremely difficult to have family come to stay because of the bedroom situation. So, it may be useful to think about the practicalities of completely open borders before you offer our country to one and all.

Rowyn, the answer is we are a soft touch. as GSM stated previously.
Free housing, medical care, dentistry, and schooling for themselves and their dependents.

France and Germany are not as accommodating.

I agree. These people are human beings. So how many human beings who want to come to the UK should we allow into our country? Everyone in Sudan? Everyone in Pakistan? Everyone in Ethiopia? There are so many war torn and impoverished countries whose populations would love to settle here but are there no limits? Of course people want to come here because they speak English and so it's easier for them to integrate. But I have relatives who having to learn another language to settle in another country and my husband had to learn another language when he worked abroad.

rowyn

Perhaps someone could explain to me just why the UK is targeted by so many?
What is it about us that motivates them to risk their lives?
If they're setting sail from France they have a whole enormously wide choice of countries on the mainland , which would be a much safer journey.

No ID, no detention, unlike Germany say, ability to disappear into the black economy, lax ability by the home office to monitor these arrivals and keep checks on their movements. No deportation when asylum denied. So they're onto a win win. They can also claim to be children,gay or LGBT. Or change their religion, outwardly, aided and abetted by lawyers to stay in the UK. Why that should be a reason is beyond me.

Totally agree Cossy