The UK needs more immigrants.

[Woodleyclaret]

A story about a farmer struggling to recruit pickers from his locality in Sussex amused me.He have his reason for needing workers from the EU was that locals would need housing
A Polish aquintance of our worked from 8am to 7pm picking strawberries.Her accomadation was a small Sprite touring caravan which her and hubby shared with 3 other pickers.
That's the real issue farmers would have to pay decent wages to locals.I doubt these jobs are advertised at the Jobcentre either
As for needing housing locals already live in the area so the talk about needing accomadation is nonsense

[BabylonClaret]

Skilled migrants not an issue with at all. Unskilled we should limit so that our own citizens without work can fill these roles.

If benefits were not available to immigrants including healthcare and our social services ( unless they pay to use ) then we would be a far less attractive to the scroungers who arrive to take advantage.

They're not. For most benefits (ie the ones that cost a lot) you have to prove residency over a period of time.

[kentonclaret]

From the last set of statistics and figures made available the number of EU migrants receiving benefits was just 2.2 percent of the total. The idea that EU migrants are coming to Britain to claim benefits (Benefits Tourism) isn't borne out by any of the national statistics.

[Lancasterclaret]

If the reason against immigration is "make our own lazy bastards get off the arse and get a job" then its not really an argument

[Spijed]

If the reason against immigration is "make our own lazy bastards get off the arse and get a job" then its not really an argument

When people use the argument that 'Poles', for example, are taking our jobs it's purely because they are willing to do the jobs that people in Britain don't want to do.

Is there any evidence that people over here can't get a job because the positions are already taken by overseas workers?

Or is it simply a case of unwanted jobs being filled by those coming from the EU?

[Colburn_Claret]

If this is all evidence based, can you remind me of the official figures on the number of EU migrants in the country, and claiming benefits instead of working, and for those committing crimes?

And while your at it, can you remind us of the amount migrants from the EU contributed to the Uk exchequer at the last election?

It wouldn't matter if there were 2 million migrants contributing and 200,000 not. It would still be 200,000 too many.
I also couldn't care whether they contribute to the exchequer, it's those not contributing, just takin, which is a problem.
I wouldn't expect Brits to go into Europe just to claim benefits in Germany or France or anywhere else. Highly unlikely I know considering our slack benefit system draws people like a flame does a moth, but if those countries were to send those Brits home I would applaud it, not complain.

[ClaretAndJew]

Colburn_Claret

There are more Brits in Europe claiming benefits than there are European migrants here doing the same.

[Colburn_Claret]

When people use the argument that 'Poles', for example, are taking our jobs it's purely because they are willing to do the jobs that people in Britain don't want to do.

Is there any evidence that people over here can't get a job because the positions are already taken by overseas workers?

Or is it simply a case of unwanted jobs being filled by those coming from the EU?

I've worked with many Poles in my old job, nearly all cracking lads. There definitely was a time 15 years ago, when Poles were willing to take on jobs that lots of Brits would refuse to do. Many small businesses would have gone tits up without them. However 15 years on and the minimum wage, and most of those very low paid jobs have disappeared. Those that go under the radar are normally filled by people claiming benefit at the same time as working for cash in hand. Another draw for a certain kind of migrant, but an understandable one.

I would definitely prioritise training the youths of today, and creating a culture where people take responsibility for themselves, rather than just solve it by calling on more migrants.

[Colburn_Claret]

Colburn_Claret

There are more Brits in Europe claiming benefits than there are European migrants here doing the same.

I don't know where you got that stat from, because I've never read anywhere that Brits abroad are claiming benefits. Even all the OAPs get their pensions from Britain. BUT if you were correct, then Europe should kick the lazy bastards out. They should be our problem not theirs.

I do hope you finally understand.

[ClaretAndJew]

This is one link that is credible that I have found mate http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/britons-claimi ... uk-1484091" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ClaretAndJew]

Here it is in The Guardian too, which is credible https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... enefits-eu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lancasterclaret]

Its almost like those who want to leave Europe haven't bothered their arse doing any research on it isn't it?

[LeadBelly]

The Guardian heading is "Unemployed Britons in richer EU states outnumber claimants from those countries in UK".
It doesnt matter to what we pay out whether they are from rich or poor countries does it? they all get the same benefits as far as I know.

That chart shows that there are 30,000 Brits in the EU claiming benefits but it also shows that the reverse figure is much more in total (14,880 Poles, 6,690 Slovaks, 6,210 Portuguese, 4,080 Lithuanians add up to nearly 32,000 for starters). I cant be arsed adding all those numbers up but it seems to be c 60,000 - twice as many as 30,000.

[bluelabrador16]

Twice as many EU immigrants claiming unemployment benefits in UK than vice versa, new research shows...Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent

"Around 30,000 Britons are claiming unemployment benefits abroad, research finds – far less than 65,000 EU citizens doing so in UK"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -show.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ClaretAndJew]

Well I mean, it's splitting hairs, it's both, we're doing it over there, they are here. Whether it's more or less, It's still an issue.

But what's the solution?

[Flatline]

Close the borders like we did for a thousand years previously.

[LeadBelly]

C&J you are backtracking. You stated, a few posts back, "There are more Brits in Europe claiming benefits than there are European migrants here doing the same." and then quoted the Guardian article. Your statement is not true.

The Guardian article did, disingenuously, say "Unemployed Britons in richer EU states outnumber claimants from those countries in UK". However, the figures in the article showed that there were at least twice as many EU claimants in the UK than vice versa.

You were misled by The Grauniad's avoidance of the truth/selective numbers, The Mail/Express are not the only organs of the press where you need to read the actual data rather than swallow their headlines.

Maybe the solution is for each country to pay benefits in line with the "incomer's" own country rather than the host country.

[ClaretAndJew]

How can I be backtracking when I'm admitting making a mistake?

If I was trying to cover stuff up etc then fair enough, but I'd be an idiot to not admit something that is blatantly there.

People are allowed to be wrong, it's human nature.

[nil_desperandum]

I wouldn't expect Brits to go into Europe just to claim benefits in Germany or France or anywhere else. Highly unlikely I know considering our slack benefit system draws people like a flame does a moth, but if those countries were to send those Brits home I would applaud it, not complain.

They don't go to those countries in order to claim benefits, nor do the vast majority from the EU who claim over here, as you will note from the small proportion /percentage who actually claim benefits. There are all sorts of reasons why you might end up on benefits - in many cases it could be quite short term. If you settle over here and have bought a house and then get made redundant then you may find yourself on housing benefit until you get sorted out, or of course, you might have a really good job, but you might have an accident, or fall ill, and need benefits whilst you are recovering. There are obviously other scenarios too, but I won't list them all. You will only get these benefits if you have proof of residency. If you have not been here long or don't meet any of the various criteria then the NHS is entitled to reclaim costs from EU partners who are in the EHIC scheme.

[LeadBelly]

Aye N_D, the number of claimants is relatively small cf the total numbers involved.
I think the latest estimate of Brits in EU is a bit under 1 million, with 3.2 million EU citizens here. So 30,000 and 65,000 are only c 3%, 2% respectively.

[Burnley Ace]

There may be 1.5m unemployed but there aren't 1.5m employable people.

[RingoMcCartney]

Here it is in The Guardian too, which is credible https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... enefits-eu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would love it for every single one of the, radicalised mass immigrationist, journalists who write for the Guardian, to be called into the office on Monday morning. Told,

"we've got an eloquent, highly educated eastern European graduate who's willing to do your job for a quarter of your salary!!!"

"Collect your personal belongings on the way out would you please"

Then see if they still believe uncontrolled mass immigration is good for THEIR personal economy.

You can have uncontrolled mass immigration.

You can have a welfare state.

You cannot have both.

[Imploding Turtle]

I would love it for every single one of the, radicalised mass immigrationist, journalists who write for the Guardian, to be called into the office on Monday morning. Told,

"we've got an eloquent, highly educated eastern European graduate who's willing to do your job for a quarter of your salary!!!"

"Collect your personal belongings on the way out would you please"

Then see if they still believe uncontrolled mass immigration is good for THEIR personal economy.

You can have uncontrolled mass immigration.

You can have a welfare state.

You cannot have both.

That's already possible, you dumb ******. You don't have to live in the UK for someone to email an article to an editor. Or maybe you're hoping that closing our borders will mean we can't get emails from dirty foreigners.

And if an eastern European graduate can write a piece of journalism in his or her second language better or as good as a Guardian journalist in their native language then they don't really deserve the job in the first place.

And once again, immigration to the UK isn't uncontrolled. You're lying every time you say it is.

[Rowls]

This is one link that is credible that I have found mate http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/britons-claimi ... uk-1484091" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here it is in The Guardian too, which is credible https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... enefits-eu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We never EVER recorded claimant's nationalities when processing benefit claims when I worked for the DWP.

We need somebody who processes JSA claims for a living to answer this. Has this changed? Are EU citizens nationalities now recorded when processing their claims?

If somebody on here has more detail of how the Guardian actually obtained these very specific figures it would be very interesting.

[Rowls]

Ah, it would appear they do indeed ask for a nationality when making claims online.

[claretandy]

Even Corbyn says immigration will "probably be lower" when freedom of movement ends and he will stop jobs being advertised abroad.

What kind of right wing nutter is he ?

[bfcjg]

We Brits, we men and women from this sacred isle should be able to go anywhere in the world where the germanic nazi jack boot once trod and claim benefits for having forebears that saved the cheese,pasta, more cheese (Edam), salted fish and pickled herring, north african prune dish, Polish sausage,Greek yogurt eating surrender monkeys from Merkel's great uncle twice removed tyranny.
The Americans just supplied us with chewing gum and watched the results come in on teletext, the Russians only advanced because we told them they could see kent from the top of the Brandenburg gate.
Go abroad, claim benefits, speak loud and point for Johnny foreigner to get the message that we are British and we are entitled.

[Lancasterclaret]

Genius, and only slightly more bonkers than what UKIP members actually really think.

[ClaretAndJew]

I am hoping that's a joke.

If so, genius.

If not, I'm cancelling my subscription to life.

[bfcjg]

Factually correct C&J apart from teletext it was ceefax.
If you don't think it is a joke then you are not the poster I think you are, your account must have been hacked by Turtle.

[Claret&Green]

You've hit on an important point there. The relatively "young" cohort of migrant workers who are currently helping to pay our pensions will not be entitled to anything like the same benefits when they reach retirement age, unless they make a really significant contribution to a pension pot, and even then, they may not qualify until they are about 70 if things continue on the current trend.
For the present however, we rely on their contributions to fund our ageing population.

But what about the hundreds of thousands of lazy arsed white British layabouts, I resent having to pay their benefits as much as I do the foreigners who send benefits home to possibly non existent offspring in Eastern Europe.

[Blackrod]

Immigration to the UK isn't uncontrolled. Quite right. It's extremely poorly controlled and has been a failure.

[bfcjg]

Wish we had an immigrant who could play a simple ball on the ground to the front man.......Oh we do/did .

[Quickenthetempo]

You can argue one way or the other but the simple facts are this tiny Island can only take so much more of an increase in population.

The cost of more water pipes across the country, drainage, waste water, electric etc.. has to be funded. We have privatised most stuff whom companies are only interested in profit and not our infrastructure.
Motorways are gridlocked, trains poor.

We will bankrupt the country trying to keep up with more numbers.