Comments on immigrant benefits

On second homes in Cornwall, (I own one), there is a 2nd home owners scheme where we can make a direct, voluntary contribution to support those locals with housing needs in Cornwall. I believe several millions have been collected, in addition to the higher second home tax now charged.

I recognise that I am very lucky to own a second home in Cornwall, when for others daily life in the county can be a challenge. However, my understanding is that locals feel resentment on both counts, but they feel that at least 2nd home owners are providing them with some support, beyond the welcome drawing in of tourists, unlike the homeless migrants who bring nothing to the community.

Doodledog

Isn’t it equally unjust that those who can afford it can have two homes when many people don’t have one? That’s not whataboutery - it’s disputing the idea that 46 homes for immigrants has anything like the impact of countless second homes that lie empty most of the time.

As long as people pay the appropriate amount of tax, should they not be allowed rpto spend their money as thry wish?

One other problem with second home owners, so I was told by Cornish residents, is that they may arrive with a boot loaded with supplies for their stay and do not shop locally.

Meandrogrog

Doodledog

Isn’t it equally unjust that those who can afford it can have two homes when many people don’t have one? That’s not whataboutery - it’s disputing the idea that 46 homes for immigrants has anything like the impact of countless second homes that lie empty most of the time.

People should be allowed to buy what they wish to buy, otherwise its the politics of envy.

Second homes are a problem but the fact is that not enough social housing is being provided.

Only 11% of housing stock in Cornwall is social housing, compared to an average of 18% across England
cornwallcommunityfoundation.com/our-impact-strategy/cornwall-housing-crisis/

Well it just adds to decision to vote to for a different party from the ones who are in power.

What I’m trying to point out is the feelings that will lead to a Reform victory unless the Party in power realises what is happening and takes action to counter people’s feelings if injustice and always bring at the bottom of the pile.

It’s inevitable that people will turn to someone who acknowledges their problems and promises them a better life

However mistaken the reality might turn out to be. That’s why Labour are in power at the moment. Because of that hope if something better.

Doodledog

Isn’t it equally unjust that those who can afford it can have two homes when many people don’t have one? That’s not whataboutery - it’s disputing the idea that 46 homes for immigrants has anything like the impact of countless second homes that lie empty most of the time.

People should be allowed to buy what they wish to buy, otherwise its the politics of envy.

Isn’t it equally unjust that those who can afford it can have two homes when many people don’t have one? That’s not whataboutery - it’s disputing the idea that 46 homes for immigrants has anything like the impact of countless second homes that lie empty most of the time.

Well, not always , no.

Second home owners cause a lot of resentment too.

But whataboutery doesn’t change what people experience. Homes for new arrivals, people have been told it isn’t possible to provide homes for people who live there.

That basic injustice.

Hasn’t there always been a housing problem in Cornwall? And isn’t a lot of it caused by second home owners?

I agree with you Lathyrus3...I said something similar on another thread.

Actually Cornwall is relevant to what I was saying.

It is in fnancual trouble as a county. There are 22,000 residents on its housing lists many of whom have been there for years.

It has bought 46 houses solely for homeless migrants and accommodates many more in private rented accommodation which is then unavailable for Cornish residents.

It makes for resentment. No money available to buy houses for my family who contribute to our economy but money available for others. We have to pay rent and Council tax whilst others get the same for free.

It’s not racism but a deep sense of unfairness and injustice. It’s that feeling that will propel Reform into power.

“ A programme designed to inspire people to connect to nature has been awarded more than £2m of funding from the National Lottery.
The Eden Project scheme - called Nature: Connection and Recovery - aimed to make nature central to boosting health and wellbeing while giving communities tools to take action on climate change, programme leaders said.
They said Dundee, Morecambe, Liverpool, Belfast, Newport and Cornwall would benefit from nature-based activities, including nature recovery work, food-growing and art.
Sam Alford, from the Cornwall-based Eden Project, said the three-year scheme would "highlight the role of nature in helping to solve the climate emergency".
"By the end of the three years, more people in communities across the UK will have had the opportunity to help shape and participate in nature connections and recovery activities, helping to restore and regenerate natural spaces near to where they live," he said.
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The programme also involves the Gwent, Ulster, Lancashire and Scottish wildlife trusts, health company Intelligent Health and the Ashken Family Foundation.
It aimed to "reach people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination and will support them with the skills needed to help mitigate the climate crisis", said the Eden Project.
Liz Watchorn, from the the National Lottery Community Fund, said: "Helping people to reconnect with nature is vital for our planet and our wellbeing and, thanks to National Lottery players, this project will have a lasting impact on communities across the UK."
The Eden Project said the programme would begin in 2026 in St Austell, Morecambe and Liverpool, with further areas to be announced later in 2026.”
Sounds as though it’s ok. I really must buy lottery tickets more often…keep saying I will but then don’t!

GrannyGravy13

MayBee70

sixandahalf

He spoke to a retired nurse who had lived there all her life and said it used to be a lovely community where everybody took great pride in their properties and the streets

I can tell you from first hand, lived experience the poverty there has always been sad to see.

Didn’t it all start with the mine closures when there was no new employment created for people? A legacy of the Thatcher years? I think the EU ploughed money into such areas but they voted to leave the EU.

Margaret Thatcher closed between 115-160 pits Conservative

Harold Wilson closed between 253-290 pits Labour

Source - Google

I can play that game. too.

The pits closed during the Wilson administration were small, poor quality. and of low productivity, The aim was to make the then nationalised coal industry more efficient and more cost effective.

The ones that remained were the large, highly productive pits.

Thatcher's objective was to destroy the mining industry because of her ideological objection to nationalised industry and, I think, because miners' industrial action over the years had caused so much trouble for tory administrations.

Of course, now that we are so conscious of the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels we could, in a weird way, be glad that the pits were closed, but as their output was replaced with imported coal and lots of opencast mining went on for decades after I don't think she had the environment in mind at the time.

The EU funding was a capital grant for start up, not ongoing financial support.

Eden has suffered from a massive drop in visitor numbers since Covid, increased running costs and a structure that has aged and needs costly maintenance and repairs.

It’s all there on their web site. You can’t blame that one on Brexit😬

Oh no. That was going so well.

Maremia

I guess it's desperation MayBee70.
But for that community, they did lose economic support after BREXIT.

I think Cornwall are having problems, too, because they’ve lost the EU funding for The Eden Project?

I guess it's desperation MayBee70.
But for that community, they did lose economic support after BREXIT.

MayBee70

GrannyGravy13

I think the main parties really have to look at all the reasons people are turning to Reform, it’s not as simplistic as implying all their supporters are racist.

There are people who feel let down by consecutive governments, and willing to give someone else ^a go^

But they’re turning to a party that has no intention of helping them. Why can’t people see that?

I can only guess that as the main parties have promised them this that and the other in their manifesto’s and never delivered, they think they have nothing to lose by voting Reform 🤷‍♀️

GrannyGravy13

I think the main parties really have to look at all the reasons people are turning to Reform, it’s not as simplistic as implying all their supporters are racist.

There are people who feel let down by consecutive governments, and willing to give someone else ^a go^

But they’re turning to a party that has no intention of helping them. Why can’t people see that?

I think the main parties really have to look at all the reasons people are turning to Reform, it’s not as simplistic as implying all their supporters are racist.

There are people who feel let down by consecutive governments, and willing to give someone else a go

Lathyrus3

All their own fault for voting to leave the EU?

I didn’t mean that. I just don’t understand why those areas didn’t seem to understand that the EU was trying to help them though. Places like eg Ashington have been totally run down since the mines closed and central government, no matter who was in power, have done very little to help them.

MayBee70

sixandahalf

He spoke to a retired nurse who had lived there all her life and said it used to be a lovely community where everybody took great pride in their properties and the streets

I can tell you from first hand, lived experience the poverty there has always been sad to see.

Didn’t it all start with the mine closures when there was no new employment created for people? A legacy of the Thatcher years? I think the EU ploughed money into such areas but they voted to leave the EU.

Margaret Thatcher closed between 115-160 pits Conservative

Harold Wilson closed between 253-290 pits Labour

Source - Google

I don’t think people are grasping what needs to be done to prevent Reform from being the party of choice for many people who are desperate about the circumstances of their own lives.

I agree that immigrants can make an easy scapegoat but a scapegoat wouldn’t be necessary or relevant if people were happy and content.

Focusing on trying to change how people feel by making positive statements about immigration does nothing. Except make the people doing that feel virtuous and tolerant.

If anybody really cares about making immigrants welcome then the problems of indigenous poverty have to be tackled first. This is what the people in Durham are hoping for with Reform because nobody else seems to care.

It takes a saint to be glad that an immigrant family have been given a home, when you or your children and grandchildren haven’t got any chance of one.

All their own fault for voting to leave the EU?

sixandahalf

*He spoke to a retired nurse who had lived there all her life and said it used to be a lovely community where everybody took great pride in their properties and the streets*

I can tell you from first hand, lived experience the poverty there has always been sad to see.

Didn’t it all start with the mine closures when there was no new employment created for people? A legacy of the Thatcher years? I think the EU ploughed money into such areas but they voted to leave the EU.

Lathyrus3

Although the title is about “Immigrant benefits” it seems to have veered of into a discussion about Reform.

Let me make it clear that I am very fearful of a country where reform is in Government and in no way support them.

But I think it is naive to suppose that people will vote for Reform purely because of views on immigration. They will vote for Reform because their own lives are intolerable and Kabour is doing nothing to improve them, neither did a Conservative government, so Reform is their last hope.

On the BBC website there is today an article about the plight of a Durham town. I urge you to read it and to try to understand why the people there have voted for a Reform council. Immigration is not the issue for them,

The way to stop Reform is not to castigate or label the people who are in despair and are looking for a party that will actually do something to improve their lives.

What is needed us recognition of their problems and action to improve their lives. They will vote for the party that makes an effort to do that.

Great comments Lathyrus3 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻