Setting a precedent?

PS. Prove I've accused you of racism or apologise for that slur!

growstuff

swampy1961 It was the previous government's policy to start housing asylum seekers in hotels. There are now fewer asylum seekers in hotels than there were a year ago and the policy is that there will be none by 2029.

It's not just asylum seekers being housed in hotels, and it's not a new policy.

A lot of people won't know this; during Covid, the govt moved thousands of homeless people and street sleepers into city hotels. For obvious reasons, the hotels took no other bookings and just housed the "govt guests". Hotels were happy to do this because the govt payments for providing this service were HUGE. I'm talking multi millions.

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/9871128/glasgow-homeless-hotels-deaths-drug-abuse-violence-police/

A lot of people also don't seem to be aware that in the UK the homeless are entitled to benefits (more than asylum seekers receive) and free medical and dental care, if the reason for their homelessness is financial. Not only that, but local authorities are also obliged to house people if the reason for homelessness is genuine, although I'm not sure most people would like to live in the run down motels where the homelessness are housed - they're just as bad as the dumps where asylum seekers are housed.

butterandjam comparing housing irregular migrants in hotels to housing homeless people in hotels during Covid is comparing apples to pears

Of course the hoteliers were happy to take them and the government’s money.

Would you have preferred them to fold and even more people out of work?

Allira

GrannyGravy13

My opinion on irregular migration is that if the majority of the electorate are happy have money in their pockets, a decent roof over their heads, have access to a NHS dentist along with ease of seeing their GP and/or hospital appointments then it wouldn’t be such a perceived issue

However when it is reported that the irregular migrants have instant access to healthcare and dentistry, get instant accommodation, along with reports of them working as food delivery drivers illegally. When you add to the mix the publicised cases of sexual harassment, assault etc. there is going to be unrest.

Any government, of whatever party needs to acknowledge this and be seen to act in favour of the electorate that put them in power.

Well said!

When people are living on the streets, single Mums are living in mouldy, rat infested accommodation in fear of being moved out, people need to use food foodbank, there are queues round several block for a dentist, can't get a GP appointment, it's not surprising that people become resentful.

The Government is tackling the issue of illegal immigration in some way by decreeing people from certain countries now need visas. They introduced this so hurriedly, it resulted in people coming here to visit family for a holiday having to cancel as they could not get visas in time.

Firm, decisive decision-making is needed, not knee-jerk reactions and sticking plasters.

Well said to you too Allira. I think the Govt have vastly underestimated how a massive proportion of the UK population has been feeling so disappointed since they came to power. It’s not just the protestors we see on TV who have had enough of feeling badly let down but the people who sit at home feeling the same but dare not say anything.

Starmer, Cooper, Rayner etc seem to want to help everybody except for their own people who were born here, worked and paid taxes and people are really feeling that now.

Your final sentence is particularly apt. 👏

The government has a website www.gov.uk.claim-asylum setting out the rules on seeking asylum and the amount each asylum-seeker can get: £49.18 per person per week if their accommodation does not provide food and £9.95 per person per week if it does. (Hope the link works. There might be a few dots between uk and claim). And they are not allowed to earn money.

growstuff

A lot of people also don't seem to be aware that in the UK the homeless are entitled to benefits (more than asylum seekers receive) and free medical and dental care, if the reason for their homelessness is financial. Not only that, but local authorities are also obliged to house people if the reason for homelessness is genuine, although I'm not sure most people would like to live in the run down motels where the homelessness are housed - they're just as bad as the dumps where asylum seekers are housed.

That’s because they are UK citizens and they have every right to be getting benefits if they are entitled to them. Many of them are veterans as you well know who have been living on the streets.

By the way, they do not get instant medical and dental treatment like the boat people.

You clearly have no idea of the run down B and Bs and bedsits that our homeless are deposited in. They certainly don’t get put up in 3 and 4 star hotels and given vouchers, money, clothes, phones, bus passes etc.

vintage1950

The government has a website www.gov.uk.claim-asylum setting out the rules on seeking asylum and the amount each asylum-seeker can get: £49.18 per person per week if their accommodation does not provide food and £9.95 per person per week if it does. (Hope the link works. There might be a few dots between uk and claim). And they are not allowed to earn money.

We know they are not allowed to earn money vintage1950

Unfortunately there are definitely some irregular migrants and unscrupulous employers who take no notice of the law as illustrated in many TV documentaries of late.

These documentaries have led to more vigorous scrutiny of food delivery companies, car washes, barbers and nail bars.

Once they have had a visit from immigration officials they feel safe to carry on regardless as they know they are not enough inspectors to visit regularly.

Many companies are employing illegal immigrants in the gig economy. Even a Government Minister was unwittingly employing an illegal immigrant!

Asylum seekers are allowed to work after a certain length of time waiting for a decision, but they don't have to.

Allira

Mollygo

Allira

they don't arrive in their thousands

32,000 is hardly hordes!!!

46,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in boats since Labour got in.

So, what exactly is the definition of thousands?
I thought I knew but obviously opinions must vary about what constitutes thousands

(Confused emoji for explanation.)

I’d like to know the new definition of thousands too.
Is it only applicable after a certain number is reached, or is there a moving goal post, so that thousands will simply never be acceptable as a quantity to comment on?

Perhaps it's like 50 being the new 30 and 70s being the new 50?
Fluid?

Very good 👏👏👏👏

Where is Starmer?

Is he still in America toadying to Trump?

If he is back in Britain why is he not addressing the people, not from the enclosed, protected space in front of No.10 but in Epping, Portsmouth and Tamworth?

Or Portsmouth, or Tamworth or all the other places that are having illegal migrants deposited on them without prior consultation?

Allira

Many companies are employing illegal immigrants in the gig economy. Even a Government Minister was unwittingly employing an illegal immigrant!

Asylum seekers are allowed to work after a certain length of time waiting for a decision, but they don't have to.

That’s one issue that could be sorted. But, to do that you have to have more police. Not going to happen is it 🤷‍♀️

Hmm.

Heard on the news tonight

Seven Tory & Reform councils are thinking of doing the same thing as Epping.

Labour councils are concerned because that might mean a big influx into their areas!

NIMBY?

Before I get jumped on by tug, Daniel Sandford also mentioned a couple of Labour councils Wirral and Tamworth were looking into it too.

As an aside, isn’t it amazing that a court made a decision which is praised by the same people who were calling out the British judicial system for being biased only a few days ago.

Galaxy

Hate is the wrong words actually they want to control social media, it is quite frequently the default solution to complex problems.

It is, but that comes as much from the right as the left. Authoritarianism is not exclusive to one 'wing' or the other.

Casdon

As an aside, isn’t it amazing that a court made a decision which is praised by the same people who were calling out the British judicial system for being biased only a few days ago.

Yes indeed.

The misinformation fuelled by anger on this thread is a worry.
No one is denying the issues involved. The key is how best to attempt to resolve them.
If it was an easy task I’ve no doubt Sunak would have resolved it.
This government, like the last one, is doing its best in the face of an international problem that will get worse as wars and climate change continue
Where are the Palestinians driven out of their homes going?

Yes it is not right and left, I don't even know how to classify it anymore, you have say Paul Embery (Blue Labour) and Claire Fox saying similar things about speech, I do wonder if we are moving away from left and right as useful descriptors. A lot of it is about class and a complete disconnect between sections of society.

I agree Galaxy, class is significant but is rarely acknoeledged

A lot of it is about class and a complete disconnect between sections of society
And there you have it.

I think ( but I would think this) that identity politics pretty much obliterated class as

Oops. Obliterated class as the factor which has the most impact on people's lives.

petra

^A lot of it is about class and a complete disconnect between sections of society^
And there you have it.

Definitely a disconnect between Government and a growing number of the electorate.

I agree Galaxy, class is significant but is rarely acknoeledged

And what bearing does a person's "class" have Iam64? What "class" would they have to be to be fearful, apprehensive and worried about thousands of single men being deposited into their communities? Working class? Lower class? Middle class? Upper class? Please elaborate.

Re thousands earlier.

the numbers from one thousand to 9,999.
plural noun: thousands

INFORMAL
an unspecified large number.
plural noun: thousands

So the numbers mentioned qualify.

The experience of immigration is obviously very different between the classes, that is why the middle class find it very easy to chant the mantras 'diversity is out strength' etc and by doing that they are saved from being called stupid, racist, etc.