IMMIGRATION

The other day, an anonymous reader, asked me for my views on the economic case for shutting the door on immigration.

There are many views, opinions and arguments regarding the advantages and disadvantages of migration and how it has affected us nationally and locally.

If one looks on immigration from a positive, controlled point of view; in many cases host countries may find job vacancies and skills gaps can be filled which in turn may lead to sustained economic growth and those host countries can be greatly enriched by cultural diversity.

Over many years, operating immigration in a properly controlled way, we here in the UK have benefited enormously from some of the most intelligent and ambitious individuals, who for a variety of reasons have become unsatisfied with their own countries, and brought their skills to the UK. Hundreds of thousands of others we actively invited here to fill the enormous employment gaps left after WW2.

Some may well have been educated here and have chosen to stay. Others, once educated choose to return home to their country of origin, to help their fellow man and be of benefit to their own nation.

However, on the negative side, one could argue that, in more recent times, immigrants willing to work for reduced wages could see a depression of wages, which in some cases has seen unscrupulous employers ignoring productivity, training and innovation and exploiting migrant workers.

Personally, it’s my opinion that both legal and illegal immigration seems to have very little real impact on the UK’s unemployment rates, as it has been reasonably steady, even with the expected impact that the ‘recession’ has had on it. Undocumented workers certainly do take some of the jobs that would otherwise go to legal workers. But undocumented workers also create many demands that leads to the creation of new jobs. They buy food and cars and pay rent, they get haircuts and go to supermarkets just like the rest of us, so on average, there really is no real net impact on the unemployment rate.

But, again, in my opinion the basic problem that we have here in the UK is the extra 2.5million (estimated because home office records on immigration were largely unrecorded) and that massive increase in population over the last decade that has put added pressure on public services. This huge, totally unexpected increase, which has happened now under several Governments, has had a detrimental strain on the costs incurred in the provision of resources such as education, social services, security, crime, benefits and health facilities.

Add to legitimate immigration, the unknown numbers of illegal immigration that has emerged in some parts of the country. This too has proven to be an added burden to the nation’s economy and our social welfare.

This has brought about widely thought premise; which has not helped by exaggerated stories in the popular press, that this unrestricted number of incomers has indeed had an effect on the nation’s unemployment, which in certain areas it has and has caused difficulties with integration has caused friction with local people. But it not rife throughout the nation; just in those pockets that have become 'mini-nations' within our nation.

Also, with the EU’s rulings covering the ease of movement from many more of the newly ascended East European countries, has facilitated a rise in organised crime and people trafficking.

Another factor, although I have no facts other than my own observations to back this up, it seems to me that many immigrants, especially here in Tameside, have not faced the facts that not only are they leaving their home country behind, they're leaving a culture behind too.

Recently, I believe Ed Miliband made a speech admitting that during their time in office, Labour, “Got it wrong on immigration! 

By the sound of it he was presumably trying to distance himself from his ex-boss, who came out with a highly politically charged statement: “British Jobs for British Workers". (More BNP than Labour!)

There will always be questions of racism and discrimination that arise as a result of the growing diversity of immigration into the UK but, immigrants must also take some responsibility if there is to be a smooth integration of cultures. For instance, one example of the enormous problem of integration could be solved by ensuring that all migrants and minorities learn and speak English.

I could probably write a whole tome on the subject, but time and space precludes.

However, hopefully I trust that the questioner appreciates the fact that I have at least tried to put my thoughts without any xenophobic thoughts or political bias.