Yesterdays Daily Express ran a story about the latest figures of Migrants coming into Britain, over 860 a day. Of course periodically there have been similar stories and different figures ran in the newspapers sporadically throughout the last couple of years. The truth is nobody is really sure on the exact figures and the reality is becoming evident in everyday life.
The government may have an idea on EU migrants but it has no idea on the amount of illegal migrants here, and let’s be honest, it’s not hard for them to get in. Latest figures estimate that 2.3 million immigrants have moved here since Labour took power in 1997, more than the entire population of West Yorkshire.
Overall figures for migration in 2006 according to the National Office for Statistics states that 191,000 came into Britain and 126,000 Britons left. Since Labour took power there has been a net inflow of 2,337,000 and an outflow of 715,000. Recent figures and estimates are quoted as saying that over 2 million homes will have to be built in the next 2 decades to cope with the influx, if you ask me, that’s shocking.
Now people are realising the social impact of so many migrants as stories come to the fore about migrants settling in large groups in the suburbs and upsetting the local communities. There is also continuing worries about strains on local services, hospitals and schools.
In my town we’ve have a large contingent of east Europeans, recent incidents have included local wildlife being killed that are delicacies in eastern Europe, stabbings and guy from Poland on the loose with a machete. You only have to look at their cars to see they don’t even bother with car tax.
In my view you just can’t have such a massive influx of different cultures and not expect tension. In my experience the recent influx of east Europeans don’t want to integrate, they don’t want to learn the language, they just want to do their own thing and take the money whilst reaping the best of our system, wages and national health etc. You have to bear in mind although they may do jobs we don’t want too, they pay the least tax and much of the money goes back home.
With recent concerns from the bank of England about the economy I have to ask myself what benefits migrants have given us? I wouldn’t mind so much if they actually wanted British citizenship and wanted to be proud of that fact. Whilst I’m sure some do want that and would be proud it’s clear most are here in a mercenary capacity and encouraging more of their kin to come over and reap the rewards here.
There are only so many jobs available in the UK and it would appear that the large numbers walking around town aren’t working, though they are working our benefits system for a guess. On a recent trip to Nottingham I was shocked how many east Europeans were just milling around ogling girls on street corners or huddled together on benches.
On a more shocking note whilst the government has hardly any control of who comes here from EU countries it can control the amount from non-EU states of which its estimated around 68% that came here in 2006 were from outside the EU.
Either way, figures or no figures its bloody obvious there’s lots here and tensions are rising, and rising fast in some areas.
Alarmingly France is building another Sangatte style camp close to Calais to home migrants seeking asylum in the UK. An estimated 67,000 migrants passed through the Sangatte camp into the UK before it closed in 2002. Ironically the new site isn’t too far from ferry terminals and is opposite a truck stop – great planning by our French friends – not!
This blog isn’t so much a swipe at migrants who want to better themselves more a blog on the practicalities now facing the UK under such a large influx of foreign peoples, we just aren’t that big a country and in the near future real problems will arise from such a large influx from the continent and further afield.
Opposite the Council House clock and below some views of the city.
