Immigration has long been a subject to inflame passions and the issue is back in the headlines again after a new report suggested migrants do not bring the economic benefit to the country that the government says they do.
Ministers argue that immigration is worth 6 billion pounds a year to Britain’s GDP and also helps to fill labour and skills shortages.
But the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, whose members include two former Conservative Chancellors and a number of other leading economists and City figures, disputed this, saying the economic benefits are limited.
It has called for the government to review its policies and look at what impact the influx of 190,000 migrants a year is having on the country.
So is the government’s approach to immigration flawed as the committee says? Or are immigrants vital to Britain’s economic future?
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22 comments so far
The contribution from immigrants will be reversed if unemployment increases with fears of a recession then they will all claim full benefit at a huge cost to the country
- Posted by nigelFar too many immigrants been allowed into UK. In Denmark intercontinental arranged marriages amongst asian community not allowed in order to truly integrate population - why not here?
- Posted by Ken MeredithBecause we’re a soft touch!
The government’s immigration policy is turning non-racists like myself into racists.
How can it be good for the economy they drain are HNS and various services including housing the minute they arrive without having contributed a penny!
- Posted by Sue OliverWhen EU expanded its border to East, many of the existing members incl. Germany, France, Denmark, refused to let inflow of the new potential working force to there country. As they knew that there economy couldn’t absorb more seeking workers.
Where as Britain plc opened its entire doors, and was in the fantasy world and thought suddenly it actually might have the same capacity of the US economy, which could easily absorb another 10% of immigrants. Tony Blair, were keeping referring to these magical numbers of how much they could benefit the economy, as when he was referring to growth, which was inorganic, as the economy was growing mainly on borrowing, which is the result of the disaster we are facing today.
If this country needed so much new workforce, why not get rid of people on the dole, and provide them with necessary skills, as this country needed permanently where as the immigrant could leave tomorrow.
Labour has never been competent in running this country, its like fire fighting, whenever there is a problem, it aim to solve with a magical pill, i.e. nurses, doctors, were brought from overseas. When will this country see a brave patriot, who will embrace reality rather then poll figures.
- Posted by YucelIt is now widely recognised, even by the Government that it’s immigration controls have been far too lax, some would say almost non-existent. Further, no mandate has been sought from the British people at any election to allow immigration on such a scale. This is another example of how our ruling elite have completely ignored public opinion on an issue that is vital to the character and social cohesion of this country.
- Posted by AndrewMore government lies exposed to the light of day. Use your vote and get these bl**dy awful people out of office.
- Posted by Mike Tthis just goes to show what lies the multiculturists will tell. It is bad for britian to let them in
- Posted by mikeAnother myth of labours social engineering exposedin Peterborough there is now huge pressure on shools hospitals council houses social services ect ect for the benefits of what? cheap labour to pull up cabbages car washes on every vacant site ect the immigrants especially polish now have there own mini markets cafes take aways ect so the money they spend goes back to their countrymen and in most cases back to their country of origin at huge social cost to this country and its indiginous population benefits to this country?0
- Posted by tony dWe are over-full of population, we need a good clear-out in order to eke out what few resources we have left.
- Posted by William FowlerImmigration is difficult to controle, benefits and NHS treatment are easy. NO one should be eligible for either unless they are born here or have been in legal employment for a min of three years. The influx would stop overnight.
- Posted by peter savageWe must go down the same path as New Zealand and Aus using points system and language,no if’s and but’s if they do not meat the criteria -no entry! and if they are allowed to then come into UK they must be self supporting with their own funds for a period of time!
- Posted by Malcolmno handouts etc.
I don’t care who comes as long as they work and pay their taxes. They should not get priority with housing and other benefits. How come they can arrive get homed buy cars,arrange satelite TV on their council homes. buy mobiles, send money home but not bother to learn the language or get a job??? I live in Surrey and sometimes no English is being spoken around me…..there is something very wrong there! I lived abroad and had to pay my own way and learn the language….Stop giving benefits away lets get our own people sorted before we give to others..close our boarders for 10 years….
- Posted by Sue AyersWhat a missleading headline :Immigration : Good or bad for Britain….The headline its self shows not one once of inteligent questioning!..
There could only be one answer which is not devisive…
Cant anyone ask a proper question , Is “Unmanaged Immigration” : Good or Bad for Great Britain ?
The first question is a typical Left Wing Namby Pamby, grossly insulting one…..heaven help us if the same person was responsible for asking the country in a referendum “Do you want to be in Europe?”
What is the editor doing, allowing such closed questions..where is the journalistic proffessionalism??
- Posted by KevinI think ppl are getting confused here and miss educated here. Its not immigration as a whole which is termed here as burden to UK economy, but its the inflow of citizens of the ever growing EU who are having a free ride. On the other hand people coming from other parts like me, feel burdened as we don’t have access to state benefits and are still paying huge sums in taxes and NI contributions.
And who is getting the benefit the person who is hooked to the state benefit because he knows he will be paid his £100 odd week in and out and also ppl from the larger EU who come here with selfish intentions and manage to get a free ride with direct access to all state benefits. And the bizarre situation here is UK is making it more tough for genuine ppl to come here and contribute to the UK economy. In todays capitalist word I think there should be no benefits for uneconomic person (any one who is not adding to the economy)
- Posted by TDHi:
- Posted by MichaAmerica and Britain are the Birthright nation of this world and so we tend to allow much… the other nations are just too different form us to understand that our kindness is not weakness. Good Luck over there.
We love you and feel a real bond of friendship.
I keep running into recent British immigrants to New Zealand who make no bones about the fact that one of their prime reasons for moving half-way round the world is because they no longer feel that Britain “is their country” any more. To shut the gates now is about 50 years too late.
- Posted by Gordon NorrisThe Lords report exposes the lies of the Labour Party and its apologists who claim that Britain “benefits” from mass immigration. The truth is that the only benefit is to the Labour Party which has used immigration to increase its client vote in England where the decline of heavy industry had greatly reduced the party’s traditional working class support and threatened its existence. Stalin used a similar technique in Ukraine and the Baltic States amongst others by importing Russians into those countries to dilute opposition and bolster his control. The UK’s own closet Stalinists learned the lesson well and have implemented the policy with great success. In doing so they have condemned the country to a legacy of tension and division which can never be resolved.
The Conservative and Liberal parties are also to blame for their cowardice in refusing to confront the Socialist policy head-on and reverse it when they were in power and had the opportunity. The consequences were plain for all to see in America - the difference being that America inherited its problems, while British politicians quite deliberately set out to create the same problems and were allowed to get away with it. History will label them accordingly, but that will be no comfort to our children who have to live with the consequences.
- Posted by Pelhamimmigration in areas of our country is down to the fact immigrants are prepared to work below the national wage which the work force in this country have struggled hard to obtain. Who would trust a immigrant worker to put in plumbing gas central heating in their homes not knowing if the person who is installing it is fully qualifiED i>e corgi registered.
- Posted by frankBad, is the correct answer.
- Posted by Edward bartonThe rickety logic behind the governments immigration ‘policy’ presupposes that our economy still needs to grow, whereas it would be better if it stabilized. The only truly logical reason to maintain a net growth in immigration, is a falling birthrate. However, in this world that is facing global warming and a food crisis, is a falling birthrate not what we should be aspiring to?
The government have been recklessly allowing all into the country in a desperate attempt to prop up the economy for years. It works in the short term but will be a disaster in the long term. Greedy British employers are shunning British workers for cheaper immigrant labour.
- Posted by Tony SutcliffeI am a printer by trade and cannot find work I used to earn 38k a year, the print industry is struggling and now I find myself in competition with immigrants for every job. I have my forklift licence which I have fallen back on for employment in the past. But now this pays minimum wage. In desperation I took a minimum wage position but immediately began falling behind on all my bills.
The cost of living has gone through the roof; add that to my maintenance payments and an income of £10,800 plus tax credits is just not enough to live on. I have worked all my life but am now unemployed and cannot find a job that pays enough. I had begun retraining in “Cisco networking” but now cannot afford the course fees, it’s high time that the government realised they were elected to look after the people of Britain and not the economy.
I am starting to feel that if nothing changes soon I may as well consider myself retired at 37.
I am an American that really don’t understand either countries policies (UK&US). I tried some years ago to immigrate to the UK. I had a British fiance and a job as a policeman. I was told I couldn’t work in the UK for three years. I wouldn’t qualify for NHS or any assistance whatever. I was told to go home the hamburgers are bigger there. Everyday indigenious people get off the plane at Heathrow and are given every assistance posible and they don’t even like the UK. Here in the US a Brit has to pay and wait for years to get a green card, but thousands of Mexicans spill over the border and demand their rights immediately. “Can we talk”.
- Posted by Bill FloodWhy is Britain letting in unskilled immigrants by the boatload? What does it achieve? Increase unemployment, create a society of ill feeling and hate, increase crime, overload a small island with over whelming population which puts pressure on public spending and increases congestion. Places more strain on the health services with over crowded hospitals and backlog of appointments. Creates more needs for local councils to cater for multi culture requirements, schooling and education. Then we have environment issues of increased pollution, waste and over stretching of resources. What future is there for our children? Less opportunities and less training. Is it a wonder why so many British born citizens are emigrating? Are they deserting a sinking ship? Can’t the government see what is happening all around them? The identity of this nation is fast becoming history. Will English be the first language eventually? We have a bi lingual society which brings its own problems. It doesn’t work! People are getting frustrated and fed up with seeing their country overrun with unskilled immigrants which many are here for free housing and benefits. The ones that are working are claiming other benefits and sending money back home. How is this good for the economy? Wake up people and see the damage that is being done before it is too late!
- Posted by Richard