The Refugee Ship

MillisBoris:
I think you will find that the asylum seekers who come here speak English, not French.
Those who remain in France speak French.

knspol

We all grumble about not enough housing, difficulty in getting a GP apt, difficulty getting children into local schools and so on. As a country we cannot cope with the number of migrants turning up on our shores. IMO the majority are not refugees fleeing persecution but more likely economic migrants seeking free healthcare, housing etc. They need to be housed somewhere and apparently we're running out of hotel space to the detriment of our tourist industry. Where else can they be housed???

The main cause of problems with education, housing and NHS is 13 years of Tory misrule. Their ideology is to reduce public services, remember they got rid of 20,000 experienced police officers, had many experienced managers i l.a. Made redundant.

We need a more effective efficient system for processing asylum seekers. We also need better governance of our country

We do need a quick processing system, without a doubt.

But, we cannot keep taking endless people.

Something needs to change.

vickymeldrew

MillisBoris:
I think you will find that the asylum seekers who come here speak English, not French.
Those who remain in France speak French.

Surely it's because they might already have relatives here? France probably hadn't allowed them to settle there.

Thank God, I came from a country that never signed the international refugee treaties and therefore has no asylum policy in place.

After saying that a quarter of the workers there roughly 1.2 million are foreigners and foreign expats but they are all come in with valid work visas.

Their salaries have to be above a certain threshold before they can bring in their dependents ie spouse and children.

I personally feel UK should not be taking in anymore refugees or asylum seekers since the government cannot even look after its own people.

No country can cope with a huge influx of ½ million people coming in each year.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5bsgRpxHLo

Controversial barge that houses 500 asylum seekers arrives in Dorset

Exactly!

No country can cope with a huge influx of ½ million people coming in each year.

Which is, roughly, the equivalent number of people in the UK who die each year (the most up to date figures indicate the death rate is higher). The population doesn't live forever.

But of course, no country can take in an unlimited number of immigrants haphazardly.

However, the civilised world will have to ultimately get to grips with the fact that people will continue to emigrate from countries that are embroiled in both civil and foreign wars (some of which the civilised world has actively participated in); they will also emigrate from poverty and climate disasters. Some will obviously go through the legal channels and others might not have any legal channels left open for them to access.

It's a problem that isn't going to just go away, and if the 'world' shuts its collective doors - we will end up ultimately with gangs of marauding 'pirates' roaming the seas and invading their next door neighbours, and the world will become a very unsafe and unstable planet. We, the civilised world, are not entirely innocent when it comes to the impoverishment of various nations - commercial exploitation has also also played a part in that impoverishment.

As for the UK looking after its own people - it could do just that, if it wanted to, regardless. But it would need a government that wanted to invest in public services, and the wellbeing of the whole nation. And that is not the government we have or have had for the last 13 years.

Immigration and the asylum of refugees has been weaponised and is being used as a political tool. It will not solve the problem which can only be dealt with by a world-wide integrated policy and properly funded and staffed government agencies to deal with it.

The numbers of people dying may roughly equate to the numbers arriving Dickens (I haven’t checked) but babies are being born here all the time so that argument isn’t sustainable.

The UK would be far better able to look after its own people if it didn’t have to accommodate (in every sense of that word) vast numbers of immigrants arriving without permission.

These people are 99% NOT 'refugees' - they are economic migrants, and from places we have NO historic connection with, nor responsibility for (eg Chad, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea, etc). People claiming they are refugees should research the places in the country where children have been abused, and the crime levels have risen, as a result of these people being parked in that locality. The Rwanda plan had a lot of positives.

DrWatson

These people are 99% NOT 'refugees' - they are economic migrants, and from places we have NO historic connection with, nor responsibility for (eg Chad, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea, etc). People claiming they are refugees should research the places in the country where children have been abused, and the crime levels have risen, as a result of these people being parked in that locality. The Rwanda plan had a lot of positives.

With a name like yours I thought you’d be a fact hound DrWatson, but clearly not.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Home Office’s provisional ‘Statistics relating to the Illegal Migration Bill,’ released on April 24, 2023, recorded 3,793 migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Among these, the majority originated from five countries: Afghanistan (24% or 909), India (18% or 675), Iran (14% or 524), Iraq (9% or 345), and Syria (8% or 286). Not the countries you highlighted. Figures for quarter 2 are not available yet.

I have read the comments with interest. I am wondering if any of the pro 'asylum seeker' posters have lived in an area of high immigrant population, where hardly anyone speaks English, and many cannot and will not speak English even after many years of living here. There is no integration, we live side by side but not together. The children are rushed off to religious teachings after school and at weekends, so do not socialise. The coffee shops are so full of men it is rare to be able to find a seat. There are gangs, from some of the countries mentioned in your posts, and crime. High crime. People trafficking, drugs and prostitution. These arrivals disappear to areas where there are already large numbers of people from their own countries, and enter the life of crime. Believe me, I know. I see it every day.

The UK population is still growing but much more slowly. Scotland and Wales will experience population decline without migration.

There was one, may still be there on the Clyde (Glasgow) for 1000 Ukraine refugees. No complaints raised then, why now all of a sudden. Whilst there will be genuine asylum seekers amobgst those to be housed on a boat, there will be many economic migrants purporting to be a refugee. Where else can they be housed? Sure the government would appreciate constructive suggestions. Long term UK residents are finding it hard enough to get suitable housing here. Yes the system can probably be improved but again the volume and the cost of verifying every application has to come from somewhere, the taxpayer. Sorry but if I was a genuine asylum seeker fleeing for my life, I think I'd find a boat moored in safe waters to be a haven.

Glorianny

The UK population is still growing but much more slowly. Scotland and Wales will experience population decline without migration.

I don’t think in all fairness that’s true Glorianny- we might in Wales if English people didn’t keep deciding they like it better here and moving - the population is rising, particularly since lockdowns have meant more people can work from home, we’ve had so many families where I am moving in that the schools and housing market are struggling. I imagine Scotland is the same, people want to live in beautiful places if they can find work.
One of the challenges for immigrants though is that they want to maintain social connections with people from the same background, as we all would if we moved to a different country. They find it hard to settle in rural communities with rubbish public transport and very little suitable work, no local religious centres, poor access to the food they are used to, etc. so they gravitate to cities where all those things are available. I was involved to a small degree as the NHS rep on resettlement schemes, and that was one of the major headaches.

why on earth they don't do as Labour plan, to asses those in Calais so those deemed ok can come over on an ordinary boat I don't know. Then I'd be happy about turning little boats back or moving people to somewhere else. It's as if the Tories think being nasty to black people is a vote winner, the way they've treated the NHS, education, police, benefits claimants is dire. I was on benefits for a while when I split up from my ex, I was pleased for the help and happy for it to be clawed back later, as tax credits are doing.

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

Glorianny

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

Does that go all ways then. Thought we were one United Kingdom,and I don't need to have a visa,or a passport to enter the other countries of said Kingdom.

Glorianny

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

The devil’s in the detail though. It doesn’t surprise me that England has seen large numbers of immigrants wanting to settle, because it’s cities that they want to live in. We don’t have many cities in Wales. According to the Welsh data from the ONS the local authorities here that had the highest rates of population increase since 2011 were in Newport (9.5%), Cardiff (4.7%), and Bridgend (4.5%), all urban areas with good services and access. Declines in population were in the rural and former mining communities where there’s no work. The greatest rates of population decrease since 2011 were in Ceredigion (5.8%), Blaenau Gwent (4.2%) and Gwynedd (3.7%). I’m in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a national park, so it’s not surprising we are seeing lots of incomers, people making lifestyle choices rather than international immigrants.
I’m sure that if you looked in detail at any part of the UK a similar picture would emerge, our own population is on the move constantly as well as international immigration changing the makeup.

Germanshepherdsmum

The numbers of people dying may roughly equate to the numbers arriving Dickens (I haven’t checked) but babies are being born here all the time so that argument isn’t sustainable.

The UK would be far better able to look after its own people if it didn’t have to accommodate (in every sense of that word) vast numbers of immigrants arriving without permission.

True - and of course, those deaths are largely among the elderly, many of whom are in care homes (the figures came from a government website, but I think they are only up to 2020 or 2021 - haven't seen any for 2022).

I was pointing out that the population isn't static.

As for the UK looking after its own, I'm not convinced that we would, or will, see huge improvements when the arrivals dwindle because the aim of this and Cameron's previous government, has been to cut public expenditure - in all corners. I don't know what Starmer's Labour plans are - he's obviously keeping his powder dry so to speak - but I don't think there will be a profound change in public spending.

I'm quite aware that we cannot accommodate unlimited numbers of immigrants - and not only for economic reasons. The question of integration has to be raised - even tho' some will deem it racist to even mention it, because there are those who have no desire to integrate into our way of life and that can and does cause problems in areas where the are large numbers of immigrants. It's one thing to retain aspects of one's native culture, but quite another when that culture wants to impose itself on its host and make that host adapt.

Casdon

Glorianny

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

The devil’s in the detail though. It doesn’t surprise me that England has seen large numbers of immigrants wanting to settle, because it’s cities that they want to live in. We don’t have many cities in Wales. According to the Welsh data from the ONS the local authorities here that had the highest rates of population increase since 2011 were in Newport (9.5%), Cardiff (4.7%), and Bridgend (4.5%), all urban areas with good services and access. Declines in population were in the rural and former mining communities where there’s no work. The greatest rates of population decrease since 2011 were in Ceredigion (5.8%), Blaenau Gwent (4.2%) and Gwynedd (3.7%). I’m in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a national park, so it’s not surprising we are seeing lots of incomers, people making lifestyle choices rather than international immigrants.
I’m sure that if you looked in detail at any part of the UK a similar picture would emerge, our own population is on the move constantly as well as international immigration changing the makeup.

One of the reasons for the increase in population in Newport,
SE Wales and possibly Cardiff is the opening of the Second Severn Crossing (The Prince of Wales Bridge) and many people moved over from Bristol because housing is cheaper in Wales. They still work and probably shop in Bristol and surrounding areas, however.

Amongst the very highest number of boat people coming here now are Indians. India is now a wealthy country and even has a space programme yet we give them millions of £££££ in aid!

The Indians coming on boats are definitely economic migrants.

Another 600 arrived on rubber boats today. That is another barge full plus some spare.

Callistemon21

Casdon

Glorianny

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

The devil’s in the detail though. It doesn’t surprise me that England has seen large numbers of immigrants wanting to settle, because it’s cities that they want to live in. We don’t have many cities in Wales. According to the Welsh data from the ONS the local authorities here that had the highest rates of population increase since 2011 were in Newport (9.5%), Cardiff (4.7%), and Bridgend (4.5%), all urban areas with good services and access. Declines in population were in the rural and former mining communities where there’s no work. The greatest rates of population decrease since 2011 were in Ceredigion (5.8%), Blaenau Gwent (4.2%) and Gwynedd (3.7%). I’m in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a national park, so it’s not surprising we are seeing lots of incomers, people making lifestyle choices rather than international immigrants.
I’m sure that if you looked in detail at any part of the UK a similar picture would emerge, our own population is on the move constantly as well as international immigration changing the makeup.

One of the reasons for the increase in population in Newport,
SE Wales and possibly Cardiff is the opening of the Second Severn Crossing (The Prince of Wales Bridge) and many people moved over from Bristol because housing is cheaper in Wales. They still work and probably shop in Bristol and surrounding areas, however.

Yes, you’re right. It wasn’t so much the opening of the Bridge, but the removal of the tolls! If I lived in Newport I’d go to Bristol or Cardiff to do my shopping too.

Oh yes, that's right, removal of those * tolls!!

Casdon

Callistemon21

Casdon

Glorianny

Migration from England is classed as migration. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-impact-of-migration-on-uk-population-growth/#:~:text=Official%20figures%20project%20that%20the,

The devil’s in the detail though. It doesn’t surprise me that England has seen large numbers of immigrants wanting to settle, because it’s cities that they want to live in. We don’t have many cities in Wales. According to the Welsh data from the ONS the local authorities here that had the highest rates of population increase since 2011 were in Newport (9.5%), Cardiff (4.7%), and Bridgend (4.5%), all urban areas with good services and access. Declines in population were in the rural and former mining communities where there’s no work. The greatest rates of population decrease since 2011 were in Ceredigion (5.8%), Blaenau Gwent (4.2%) and Gwynedd (3.7%). I’m in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a national park, so it’s not surprising we are seeing lots of incomers, people making lifestyle choices rather than international immigrants.
I’m sure that if you looked in detail at any part of the UK a similar picture would emerge, our own population is on the move constantly as well as international immigration changing the makeup.

One of the reasons for the increase in population in Newport,
SE Wales and possibly Cardiff is the opening of the Second Severn Crossing (The Prince of Wales Bridge) and many people moved over from Bristol because housing is cheaper in Wales. They still work and probably shop in Bristol and surrounding areas, however.

Yes, you’re right. It wasn’t so much the opening of the Bridge, but the removal of the tolls! If I lived in Newport I’d go to Bristol or Cardiff to do my shopping too.

We pop into Spytty occasionally but yes, you're right re shopping.