Why do you support Labour?

A points based system would be ideal (Oreo)

We have a points based system, don't we?

Yes

Thanks Whitewave, you sometimes wonder when it's suggested so often on social media.

It’s amazing how ill informed and unnecessarily cross some people are

Just had a look on U.Gov

Yep the points system is active now in UK

When governments admit that immigration ( legal) has run away from them and has got too high then it’s hard to believe there really is a points based system or if there is it’s being ignored.

We have huge skill shortages in some areas of work eg the NHS wouldn't be able to function at all without the thousands of foreign workers who come here to work. These workers are cheap, we haven't paid to educate them, house them, look after them for the 20 or more years they have been alive. That's been done at another countries expense. If we were using home grown skilled people we would have had this expense and we'd still have had to accommodate etc.

I’m not advocating this, but I think the points based system as it stands is fine for the worker in a required role coming to the UK. They are entitled to bring their immediate family, and parents and siblings if they are dependents. Potentially we therefore get one worker and a number of dependents. To strictly control immigration long term, the number of dependents allowed would need to be reduced.

Iam64

It’s amazing how ill informed and unnecessarily cross some people are

It’s also amazing how people manage to ignore posts which point out that they are wrong, even when links to reputable sources are posted.

Casdon

I’m not advocating this, but I think the points based system as it stands is fine for the worker in a required role coming to the UK. They are entitled to bring their immediate family, and parents and siblings if they are dependents. Potentially we therefore get one worker and a number of dependents. To strictly control immigration long term, the number of dependents allowed would need to be reduced.

Then why aren’t you advocating this? It does depend on the job and how much we want a certain worker to work and live here, and a spouse and children are reasonable and fair but not parents and siblings or anyone else.

I haven’t noticed anyone being cross, it’s a debate isn’t it.

MaizieD

^I'm not one of who thinks immigration should be banned, as it's impossible for a modern economy, but it should be controlled and employers like the NHS should be able to fill staff shortages from overseas.^

What planet are you living on, Cumbrianmale?. It IS controlled and has been for along time.

The only control over the boats arriving on our shores is by criminal gangs earning €millions

Whether or not those arriving are migrants or asylum seekers is another question?

foxie48 of course we would manage without them, who do you think they are treating! Go to any doctors or hospitals they're full of foreigners

Biscuitmuncher

foxie48 of course we would manage without them, who do you think they are treating! Go to any doctors or hospitals they're full of foreigners

"Biscuitmuncher* That's absolutely wrong. I've had two hospital admissions in 2024, on both occasions I was cared for by Migrant doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who came from all over the world. I live in a mainly rural area of the country with a very small migrant population. My daughter is a hospital doctor in Wales, she also works with staff from all over the world treating British patients. I wonder whom you are categorising as "foreign" Most "foreign" people will be required to pay for their NHS treatment.

Whether or not those arriving are migrants or asylum seekers is another question?

Indeed it is, GG13, and it is a question to be answered by the Home Office personnel who deal with their applications for asylum. Applications for which, can I remind you, can only be made in the UK, and as there are no safe routes for most asylum seekers, the boats are their only opportunity to reach the UK. Not to be decided by a load of elderly people with degrees of xenophobia which vary from non existent to pretty strong...

TBH, I thought we were talking about 'regular' immigration, for which we have had some or other sort of 'points system' since 2008. And prior to that the only 'immigrants' who didn't need a visa were our fellow EU citizens.

Oreo

I haven’t noticed anyone being cross, it’s a debate isn’t it.

But where is the chairperson?

Eats, shoots and leaves.

A koala?

MissAdventure

A koala?

😁
The book by Lynne Truss!

Yes, a koala eats shoots and leaves.
Insert a comma and the meaning changes.

Where is the OP?

I think you need an Oxford comma in there, Allira

Eats, shoots, and leaves..

MaizieD

I think you need an Oxford comma in there, Allira

Eats, shoots, and leaves..

Probably!!

Curious, though.

foxie48

Biscuitmuncher

foxie48 of course we would manage without them, who do you think they are treating! Go to any doctors or hospitals they're full of foreigners

"Biscuitmuncher* That's absolutely wrong. I've had two hospital admissions in 2024, on both occasions I was cared for by Migrant doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who came from all over the world. I live in a mainly rural area of the country with a very small migrant population. My daughter is a hospital doctor in Wales, she also works with staff from all over the world treating British patients. I wonder whom you are categorising as "foreign" Most "foreign" people will be required to pay for their NHS treatment.

Same here! I've had loads of hospital admissions and outpatient appointments over the last three years. Nearly every time I've been treated by people with foreign names (no idea if they themselves were immigrants or their parents). The only time I recall being treated by a doctor with and English-sounding name, he turned out to be Australian (and very good he was too).

My GP surgery has a number of staff with foreign-sounding names (again no idea if they were actually immigrants), but we have a low number of immigrants living in the area and I've never been aware that the waiting room is full of foreigners.

About 40% of immigrants to the UK are students. They pay very high fees to study in the UK and are keeping universities from going bankrupt (and subsidising home students). They also pay for the NHS.

Most students stay for the duration of their course and then return home and a new cohort of students arrives.

The advantages of foreign students are income for the UK and the exporting of British ideas (soft diplomacy).

About 40% of immigrants to the UK are students. They pay very high fees to study in the UK and are keeping universities from going bankrupt (and subsidising home students). They also pay for the NHS.

Universities are suffering from the restrictions on overseas students who are no longer able to bring in dependents. I know that at least two of my local NE unis are suffering from a severe cashflow shortage as a result.

I have not been a supporter of Starmer for a number of reasons, not least because of the way Corbyn was treated. (I know I will be ridiculed for that). However, the constant attacks on Reeves and Starmer demonstrate how skewed our media is and how gullible our electorate is.

After presiding over 14 years of corruption, mismanagement, neglect, dishonesty and greed, I find it incredible that the Conservative Party has the sheer nerve to criticise the Labour Party for everything move it has made so far. As for the people of this country, did they really expect the Labour Party to clear up this unholy mess (everything in ruins - the justice system, the transport system, the education system, public utilities, etc, etc, etc,) within a few months without upsetting anyone at all?

Eloethan

I have not been a supporter of Starmer for a number of reasons, not least because of the way Corbyn was treated. (I know I will be ridiculed for that). However, the constant attacks on Reeves and Starmer demonstrate how skewed our media is and how gullible our electorate is.

After presiding over 14 years of corruption, mismanagement, neglect, dishonesty and greed, I find it incredible that the Conservative Party has the sheer nerve to criticise the Labour Party for everything move it has made so far. As for the people of this country, did they really expect the Labour Party to clear up this unholy mess (everything in ruins - the justice system, the transport system, the education system, public utilities, etc, etc, etc,) within a few months without upsetting anyone at all?

Absolutely.