Posted Wed, 04/11/2009 - 16:15
UK economy News - Wednesday 4th November 2009
Are immigration numbers set to fall in the UK? |
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Wednesday 4th November 2009
While only a few days ago the UK government was still adamant there had been no mistakes with regards to its immigration program, Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, has over the last 24 hours admitted that the government has not handled the immigration issue as well as it could have. He was openly critical of his predecessors amid suggestions that the Labour Party undertook a massive immigration program purely and simply to introduce a multicultural society to the UK. Interestingly, as we approach the general election, the UK government has reiterated the fact that limits on UK bound Bulgarian and Romanian workers will remain intact until 2011 despite the fact the government sees no harm in immigrants entering the UK employment market. This comes just days after news that £24 million in child benefit is being paid to families overseas from the likes of Poland, Slovenia and other new entrants to the European Union – many of whom have never set foot in the UK. Unfortunately, there is very little of the UK government can do because of the freedom of movement within Europe and the ability of members of the European population to apply for work and benefits in any European member state. Immigration is an issue which will not go away and one which could make or break the next UK election.
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Comments
by Anonymous - 5 Nov 2009 - 02:36
Absurd. Eastern Europe's birth rate plummeted in the 1990's. Soon there will be no Poles, Czechs etc... aged 20-25 (the most likely to emigrate) left to migrate. In addition, in 2011 Germany and Austria are required to lift all barriers to migration from the Eastern European countries that joined in 2004. It will be much more convenient for Poles, Czechs and Slovaks to drive over their borders and move to places a short distance from their families. Finally, the rising gross national product of Eastern European countries (the recent recession notwithstanding) in relation to Western Europe means that Eastern Europeans have fewer reasons to leave.
Your entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own set of facts.
by Anonymous - 6 Nov 2009 - 23:43
Is it the number of immigrants or the number of WORKERS that seems to be the problem. I certainly agree with EricB that the number of E. Europeans is falling and will fall away to nil eventually. the rise in the economies of Italy, Ireland, Spain and portugal show that within 10 years of accession, emigration ceases and immigrants are attracted to the rising economies.EG. Sapin has 6.5mimmigrants & 40m pop. Already Czech R, hungary and Slovenia are attracting immigrants.But we should use the words Foreign workers
by Anonymous - 6 Nov 2009 - 23:47
As a second thought. There are 400,000 foreign students with study visas in the UK. they can work 10 hours during term time ( about 28 weeks ) and full time the rest of the year. the USA does not allow foreign students to work and this does not affect the number of students. In fact it has the opposite effect. Only GENUINE students apply and not bogus students hwo only want to work in the UK and NOT to study. This would stop all the bogus Colleges and taking advantage of the system. also 300,000 jobs would be available for UK workers and reduce unemployment from 2.6m to 2.3m.
by Anonymous - 6 Nov 2009 - 23:52
Most tomanians and Bulgarians who wanted to leave their countries to WORK have already left since Jan 1 2007. that i almost 3 years. 800,000 are in Spain. 600,000 in Italy and 200,000 in Greece. the UK is very far from Bourgas and our climate is not attractive. in 2011 you will see no Romanians coming here. Culturally and lingusitically they are close to Southern Europeans and also since 1989 the birth rate in E Europe have been in free fall. Even Albania had birth rate of 1.3 ( need 2.1 ).Shortage of labour pushes up wages. also the pund is weak against the euro.. so they will want to work in Germany or France.
by Anonymous - 6 Nov 2009 - 23:57
Unemployment in UK will peak at 3m in June 2011 and then start to decline.. the way to deal with immigration is to make the pension age 70 ( as in 1908 ). This would increase the work force by 3m and stop immigration for 10 years ( currently 300,000 per annum ). I am 70 and still happily working ang want to work on to 80 or evern 85 if I can and there are millions more like me.
by Anonymous - 7 Nov 2009 - 00:02
One last thought.. Stop any child benefit being paid for children NOT living in the UK.. immed saving of £24m...
and also to stop the rise in Tax.. Child benefit should be means -tested anyway and only paid to families with an income below £12,000.. that is the bottom very poor 30 per cent of the population. this would be fair. I had 3 children and never had them for the child benefit.. but coz i wanted them. Child Benefit should rise by £10 per child for the very poor (iuncome under £240 per week ) and the saving overall would be £10bn to the Exchequer ( us ..the taxpayers )
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