Macron's state visit.

But it is only a big issue to some - notably the old demographic, Tory voters and less educated.

There are far bigger issues.

Like the economy

Defence

Intelligence

Etc etc.

Calendargirl

winterwhite

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

But migration is a big issue, and seeing as they set off to us from France….

The vast majority of immigrants to the UK do not set off from France.

Is the problem that the UK has too many immigrants or that some don't have visas and arrive on small boats or some other irregular means?

growstuff

Calendargirl

winterwhite

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

But migration is a big issue, and seeing as they set off to us from France….

The vast majority of immigrants to the UK do not set off from France.

Is the problem that the UK has too many immigrants or that some don't have visas and arrive on small boats or some other irregular means?

Never forget we take less asylum seekers than other European countries. We are an island, so trying to cross the channel from France is the option

winterwhite

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

Yes, there were a lot of positives, like for example, avoiding the risks to children of social media algorithms he mentioned. That has relevance because Macron says he’ll ban social media for under 15s in France. But this won't affect children in the UK.

I guess migration is the most common-to-us- all topic, so it's only natural it gets the most comments. And Starmer is putting it very high on his agenda for tomorrow.

Also, there's separate threads on here for the Gaza issue where posters could mention what Macron said. Likewise what he said about Ukraine. Its difficult to condense it all - and just shows what a good all encompassing speech it was.

LizzieDrip

FriedGreenTomatoes2

And Starmer wanted us to lock down for longer. I remember that …

Hello FGT

It wasn’t the length of lockdowns per se, as far as I was concerned. It was the not feeling like we were in safe hands - as the French seemed to feel with Macron.

Welcome back FGT - we missed you

Do you think Starmer would have handled the pandemic any better? I certainly don't feel in safe hands now with this present government

Iam64

growstuff

Calendargirl

winterwhite

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

But migration is a big issue, and seeing as they set off to us from France….

The vast majority of immigrants to the UK do not set off from France.

Is the problem that the UK has too many immigrants or that some don't have visas and arrive on small boats or some other irregular means?

Never forget we take less asylum seekers than other European countries. We are an island, so trying to cross the channel from France is the option

I haven't forgotten. Not only that, but some countries such as Turkey and Jordan have many times more refugees than the UK - as does Germany.

What annoys me is that people casually talk about "immigrants" and then go on about overpopulation, lack of infrastructure, etc. However, the vast majority of immigrants in the UK are here legally and are contributing to society.

If people want to talk about the people arriving on small boats, I wish they'd find a different term.

Whitewavemark2

But it is only a big issue to some - notably the old demographic, Tory voters and less educated.

There are far bigger issues.

Like the economy

Defence

Intelligence

Etc etc.

How very rude!!

What makes you think that you are better educated than those of us that worry about the number of undocumented illegal (mostly young men) immigrants arriving on our shores. It should be a big issue for everyone and it certainly will be if it continues year on year out

The thousands that arrive by small boats per year equate to a city the size of Norwich and the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate.

You must live in a very rural area to not be touched by what is happening. Take your blinkers off

The total number of immigrants to the UK is much higher than the population of Norwich. I assume you're also concerned about them.

Whitewavemark2
But it is only a big issue to some - notably the old demographic, Tory voters and less educated.

I am not a Tory voter !

REKA

Never been a big fan of Macron but I'd swap him for Starmer in a heartbeat

His government is almost powerless in the face of public opposition to cuts and changing the pension age. Even Barnier couldn't manage it. A bit too much like Starmer on welfare cuts,

sundowngirl

Whitewavemark2

But it is only a big issue to some - notably the old demographic, Tory voters and less educated.

There are far bigger issues.

Like the economy

Defence

Intelligence

Etc etc.

How very rude!!

What makes you think that you are better educated than those of us that worry about the number of undocumented illegal (mostly young men) immigrants arriving on our shores. It should be a big issue for everyone and it certainly will be if it continues year on year out

The thousands that arrive by small boats per year equate to a city the size of Norwich and the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate.

You must live in a very rural area to not be touched by what is happening. Take your blinkers off

That is typical of that poster. Unless you think the same as them, if you dont agree with importing thousands of men who we know nothing about, you are ignorant and ill educated.
Well said.

Freya, your post about whitewave is as rude as you say hers was. It’s also a personal attack and refers to other threads so breaching rules I suspect

Whitewave suggestion that those who refer to asylum seekers as illegals, are often older and less educated has I believe been born out by research. I’m older and less well educated than some gransnetters but I see people as asylum seekers not illegals, until proved to have no right to be here, when I’d like to see them returned to their country of origin -

growstuff

The total number of immigrants to the UK is much higher than the population of Norwich. I assume you're also concerned about them.

Migrants who come here to either study or with a job to go to, have to provide documentation and evidence that they can either support themselves if studying or that the job they are coming to has a salary of over a certain level.

They contribute to society on day one, they do not have unlimited free access to healthcare, free housing, free food etc. in fact I think they have to pay an amount upfront in order to access NHS services.

The unfortunate people crossing the channel who risk drowning arrive with zero documentation, are taken care of by the state (and rightly so) have immediate access to all healthcare care services, cannot work legally. (According to the BBC documentary many work illegally for food delivery firms).

No comparison, for the security of the U.K. in these increasingly difficult and somewhat dangerous times it is imperative that we know who is entering this country, where they are from and why.

No one is complaining about legal immigration. We do complain about illegal immigration. The difference is not hard to understand and you don't need to be educated to know that there is a huge difference.

Maremia

Some have cast off their monarchs, but the USA is in the process of anointing one.

I sometimes think Trump is the reincarnation of Henry VIII*. Or perhaps of any mediaeval monarch who got rid of anyone they didn’t like by having their head chopped off.

*Or Henry Vill, as dd1 used to call him, having read a Ladybird book about him before having a clue about Roman numerals. We still call him Henry Vill!

ftm420

No one is complaining about legal immigration. We do complain about illegal immigration. The difference is not hard to understand and you don't need to be educated to know that there is a huge difference.

In that case, maybe people could stop talking about immigration in general and call it what it is.

ftm420

No one is complaining about legal immigration. We do complain about illegal immigration. The difference is not hard to understand and you don't need to be educated to know that there is a huge difference.

Why not, given legal migration is ten times as high as illegal? It makes no sense to complain about infrastructure issues related to a small minority, whilst being unconcerned about the impact of the much higher number of people entering legally. It’s not just illegal migration that is causing the UK population to rise so rapidly.

GrannyGravy13

growstuff

The total number of immigrants to the UK is much higher than the population of Norwich. I assume you're also concerned about them.

Migrants who come here to either study or with a job to go to, have to provide documentation and evidence that they can either support themselves if studying or that the job they are coming to has a salary of over a certain level.

They contribute to society on day one, they do not have unlimited free access to healthcare, free housing, free food etc. in fact I think they have to pay an amount upfront in order to access NHS services.

The unfortunate people crossing the channel who risk drowning arrive with zero documentation, are taken care of by the state (and rightly so) have immediate access to all healthcare care services, cannot work legally. (According to the BBC documentary many work illegally for food delivery firms).

No comparison, for the security of the U.K. in these increasingly difficult and somewhat dangerous times it is imperative that we know who is entering this country, where they are from and why.

I'm well aware of the difference, so maybe people could stop saying things like "Immigration is a problem".

growstuff illegal/irregular immigration is a problem for our security services and home office.

They have to ascertain that these people are who they claim to be and do not present a risk to the U.K.

According to GOV.UK 20/07/2023 (latest figures I could find) illegal migration costs upwards of £6 million a day, £3 billion a year, not all of which comes from the overseas aid budget.

UK citizens who are struggling to provide a roof over their head , a job that pays enough to feed and clothe their families, I imagine are concerned that this money could be better spent on them and their contemporaries.

What do you want those arriving here, having crossed the channel in small boats, called?

Whatever term is used, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, boat people, ….none is deemed correct.

🤷‍♀️

Genuinely I don’t get how people are not concerned about the level of net migration - ie the total number of additional people moving to the UK annually.

This isn’t primarily students, because they are replaced on a like for like basis when predecessors go home, but people who come to the UK to work, who are not replaced by others leaving. The population of the UK is increasing by over half a million+ every year. The actual figures for the last three years ending June are:
2022 764,000
2023 860,000
2024 (Jan-December) 431.000
(ONS)

I don’t think that anyone is disputing the fact that something needs to be done about asylum seekers risking their lives to get here. The problem imo is some political parties making people in this country believe that immigrants/asylum seekers etc are the root cause of every problem this country faces. It worked for the vote leave campaign and they’re using it now to undermine the government.

sundowngirl

Whitewavemark2

But it is only a big issue to some - notably the old demographic, Tory voters and less educated.

There are far bigger issues.

Like the economy

Defence

Intelligence

Etc etc.

How very rude!!

What makes you think that you are better educated than those of us that worry about the number of undocumented illegal (mostly young men) immigrants arriving on our shores. It should be a big issue for everyone and it certainly will be if it continues year on year out

The thousands that arrive by small boats per year equate to a city the size of Norwich and the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate.

You must live in a very rural area to not be touched by what is happening. Take your blinkers off

😄 you need to address your remark to the university which compiled the data.

I am not interested in your education levels, nor I assume are you interested in mine.

I actually live on the edge of a city, and I have neighbours who are Zimbabwean and Indian both in professions, paying tax etc. my GDIL is of Middle Eastern origin working as a psychologist. My DD’s BiL works for British intelligence whose family originated in the West Indies, and I have friends of varying nationalities. Every single one were originally immigrants or first/second generation. All contributing hugely to the U.K. They provide value, culture and variety to British Society.

I am, however, suggesting that migration throughout the world is an issue that is almost certainly likely to increase.

But I am not prepared to weaponise the subject to further political ends.

It needs dealing with on a world wide basis.

Cooperation within Europe is a start.

Calendargirl

What do you want those arriving here, having crossed the channel in small boats, called?

Whatever term is used, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, boat people, ….none is deemed correct.

🤷‍♀️

Under international law, they are asylum seekers, which is my preferred term.

The U.K. Tory government withdrew safe routes and introduced the term “illegal migrants” in order to weaponise the issue. Rwanda was then offered to house these “illegal migrants” making no distinction between genuine asylum seekers and economic in migrants which was more palatable to the electorate than dealing so harshly with those seeking asylum from violence, starvation etc.