Yahoo News Story

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] ]Up to one in 100 people living in Britain is an illegal immigrant, according to the Government.

The first official estimate of its kind said there were up to 570,000 who entered the UK clandestinely or on forged documents, plus those who have overstayed their visas,

Based on the 2001 Census, it also includes failed asylum seekers who have not left the UK.

However, the total does not include between 716,000 and 772,000 asylum seekers whose applications are being processed or who have launched an appeal.

Critics of the Government's immigration policy said the figure could be a "considerable underestimate".

The Home Office said the most likely figure for the number of illegal immigrants was 430,000, or 0.7 per cent of the total UK population.

SOURCE: Yahoo UK & Ireland News

Is it any wonder why we wonder sometimes why this country appears to be going down the tubes?

Mods, this is not a racist posting, I just felt it's a current news story worth discussing whilst we're devoid of any football chat & is intended to provoke debate at a time of political importance both for the country and for Europe & the World seeing as we take on the EU Presidency today & it's obviously the G8 summit next week.

 

[W4 Shrimper]

I must know at least 100 people. And none of them, to my knowledge, is an illegal immigrant.

That must mean one of them is lying. Some mates I have

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Dammit I knew they'd catch up with me eventually

I suppose I'll have to leave then, and go back to te other Huns

 

[W4 Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,10:59)]Dammit I knew they'd catch up with me eventually

I suppose I'll have to leave then, and go back to the other Huns

You'd count as my '1 in 100' then. Nice one, I can rest easy now.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Quote[/b] (W4 Shrimper @ July 01 2005,11:01)]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,10:59)]Dammit I knew they'd catch up with me eventually

I suppose I'll have to leave then, and go back to the other Huns

You'd count as my '1 in 100' then. Nice one, I can rest easy now.

Sorry mate  

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Cor, I don't know. You try & provoke intelligent debate and what do we get?

The Shrimperzone Kindergarten.....

 

[rabbloke]

Its all tribalism really. I still wish they would not allow migrants from Canvey. If we blew up the two connecting bridges then crime on the main land would halve overnight. Of course C********r would have to be nuked and supporters of the Borient exterminated. God help anyone who lives near Upton Park! Lets go the whole hog and allow 'wrinkly', oops, mercy killings and think how much we could save as a nation if there were no wheelchair bound people forcing us to give them access to everywhere. Blacks, Asians, gays, mentally ill..........I could go on forever! Still I suppose it could turn out all right if we just accepted difference and gave up the notion that England is just for the English, but then I would have to accept Sven Goran Foreigner as our national team manager. Guess I will have to bite the bullet and have a sauna put into the conservatory and clad the lounge in pine.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (rabbloke @ July 01 2005,11:08)]Its all tribalism really. I still wish they would not allow migrants from Canvey. If we blew up the two connecting bridges then crime on the main land would halve overnight. Of course C********r would have to be nuked and supporters of the Borient exterminated. God help anyone who lives near Upton Park! Lets go the whole hog and allow 'wrinkly', oops, mercy killings and think how much we could save as a nation if there were no wheelchair bound people forcing us to give them access to everywhere. Blacks, Asians, gays, mentally ill..........I could go on forever! Still I suppose it could turn out all right if we just accepted difference and gave up the notion that England is just for the English, but then I would have to accept Sven Goran Foreigner as our national team manager. Guess I will have to bite the bullet and have a sauna put into the conservatory and clad the lounge in pine.

Have you ever thought about a career in politics?

Gets my vote!

 

[Napster]

Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.

(With thanks to Tim Vine)

 

[rabbloke]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ July 01 2005,11:20)]Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.

(With thanks to Tim Vine)

There is only three in my family so one of us must be at least half chinese. How come then none of us can make sesame prawn toast?

 

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ July 01 2005,10:33)]

Quote[/b] ]Up to one in 100 people living in Britain is an illegal immigrant, according to the Government.

The first official estimate of its kind said there were up to 570,000 who entered the UK clandestinely or on forged documents, plus those who have overstayed their visas,

Based on the 2001 Census, it also includes failed asylum seekers who have not left the UK.

However, the total does not include between 716,000 and 772,000 asylum seekers whose applications are being processed or who have launched an appeal.

Critics of the Government's immigration policy said the figure could be a "considerable underestimate".

The Home Office said the most likely figure for the number of illegal immigrants was 430,000, or 0.7 per cent of the total UK population.

SOURCE: Yahoo UK & Ireland News

Is it any wonder why we wonder sometimes why this country appears to be going down the tubes?

Mods, this is not a racist posting, I just felt it's a current news story worth discussing whilst we're devoid of any football chat & is intended to provoke debate at a time of political importance both for the country and for Europe & the World seeing as we take on the EU Presidency today & it's obviously the G8 summit next week.

A worrying statistic!

This is a political minefield, so please forgive me if I write something that offends!! I'll also apologise for getting away from the "kindergarten" posts earlier in the thread.

I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

I'm more worried about the number of asylum seekers that landed here, despite the fact that the first safe haven is supposed to be the designated country of settlement. Last time I looked, the Uk didn't border Kosovo, Iraq or any other country where these migrants have arrived from.

There are so many issues with this, such as they want to be here due to having a community here already and granted, I wouldn't want to settle in France either!!

The fact remains that we have had an issue with this because we have made it very easy for them to come here and claim benefits and settle. We also need to consider that countries such as Germany and Holland were open to this sort of migration for a number of years and have had these issues in the past.

It will be interseting to see where this all heads in the next few years. I know that the Tories were stronger on this policy than Labour at the last GE, but we're lumbered with Tony and his cronies for another 4-5 years.

Gav

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ July 01 2005,10:33)]

Quote[/b] ]Up to one in 100 people living in Britain is an illegal immigrant, according to the Government.

The first official estimate of its kind said there were up to 570,000 who entered the UK clandestinely or on forged documents, plus those who have overstayed their visas,

Based on the 2001 Census, it also includes failed asylum seekers who have not left the UK.

However, the total does not include between 716,000 and 772,000 asylum seekers whose applications are being processed or who have launched an appeal.

Critics of the Government's immigration policy said the figure could be a "considerable underestimate".

The Home Office said the most likely figure for the number of illegal immigrants was 430,000, or 0.7 per cent of the total UK population.

SOURCE: Yahoo UK & Ireland News

Is it any wonder why we wonder sometimes why this country appears to be going down the tubes?

Mods, this is not a racist posting, I just felt it's a current news story worth discussing whilst we're devoid of any football chat & is intended to provoke debate at a time of political importance both for the country and for Europe & the World seeing as we take on the EU Presidency today & it's obviously the G8 summit next week.

A worrying statistic!

This is a political minefield, so please forgive me if I write something that offends!! I'll also apologise for getting away from the "kindergarten" posts earlier in the thread.

I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

I'm more worried about the number of asylum seekers that landed here, despite the fact that the first safe haven is supposed to be the designated country of settlement. Last time I looked, the Uk didn't border Kosovo, Iraq or any other country where these migrants have arrived from.

There are so many issues with this, such as they want to be here due to having a community here already and granted, I wouldn't want to settle in France either!!

The fact remains that we have had an issue with this because we have made it very easy for them to come here and claim benefits and settle. We also need to consider that countries such as Germany and Holland were open to this sort of migration for a number of years and have had these issues in the past.

It will be interseting to see where this all heads in the next few years. I know that the Tories were stronger on this policy than Labour at the last GE, but we're lumbered with Tony and his cronies for another 4-5 years.

Gav

Can you please not insist on straying back on topic

Mods - a yellow card for Shooter is in order I feel

 

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,12:06)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ July 01 2005,10:33)]

Quote[/b] ]Up to one in 100 people living in Britain is an illegal immigrant, according to the Government.

The first official estimate of its kind said there were up to 570,000 who entered the UK clandestinely or on forged documents, plus those who have overstayed their visas,

Based on the 2001 Census, it also includes failed asylum seekers who have not left the UK.

However, the total does not include between 716,000 and 772,000 asylum seekers whose applications are being processed or who have launched an appeal.

Critics of the Government's immigration policy said the figure could be a "considerable underestimate".

The Home Office said the most likely figure for the number of illegal immigrants was 430,000, or 0.7 per cent of the total UK population.

SOURCE: Yahoo UK & Ireland News

Is it any wonder why we wonder sometimes why this country appears to be going down the tubes?

Mods, this is not a racist posting, I just felt it's a current news story worth discussing whilst we're devoid of any football chat & is intended to provoke debate at a time of political importance both for the country and for Europe & the World seeing as we take on the EU Presidency today & it's obviously the G8 summit next week.

A worrying statistic!

This is a political minefield, so please forgive me if I write something that offends!! I'll also apologise for getting away from the "kindergarten" posts earlier in the thread.

I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

I'm more worried about the number of asylum seekers that landed here, despite the fact that the first safe haven is supposed to be the designated country of settlement. Last time I looked, the Uk didn't border Kosovo, Iraq or any other country where these migrants have arrived from.

There are so many issues with this, such as they want to be here due to having a community here already and granted, I wouldn't want to settle in France either!!

The fact remains that we have had an issue with this because we have made it very easy for them to come here and claim benefits and settle. We also need to consider that countries such as Germany and Holland were open to this sort of migration for a number of years and have had these issues in the past.

It will be interseting to see where this all heads in the next few years. I know that the Tories were stronger on this policy than Labour at the last GE, but we're lumbered with Tony and his cronies for another 4-5 years.

Gav

Can you please not insist on straying back on topic

Mods - a yellow card for Shooter is in order I feel

Sorry for trying to raise the intellectual bar Spiff!!

There are plenty of other topics on here if you want to be juvenile old chap.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Lighten up... my post was (bloody obviously I thought) tongue in cheek...

There are plenty of other places you could be if you want to be a miserable git!

 

[Firestorm]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)][I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

At long last, someone who understands the difference between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

The press and opposition are just taking this as an opportunity to take a pop at the government.

For example, there has been plenty made about how weak the current immigration policy is, yet apparently it is too agressive when it comes to refusing asylum to a number of people from Zimbabwe who don't meet the nessecary criteria to stay.

When a country sets itself up over history a world leader regarding human rights, to the extent that it will invade or back an invasion of countries where it feels that the incumbent leadership is not "nice" enough. (Iraq, Afghanistan etc etc going back to the crusades and further). Then it should learn to act like a "nice" country when persecuted people try to move here.

It seems perfectly ok for Britons to move to Aus, US, Canada, Spain etc, purely because they fancy a bit of sun or don't like the politics of the democratically voted government. but its way out of order for someone who managed to escape whilst his village was flattened and his family killed to try and start afresh in this country.

whats that word beginning with H i am looking for ?

 

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,12:52)]Lighten up... my post was (bloody obviously I thought) tongue in cheek...

There are plenty of other places you could be if you want to be a miserable git!

Now that is tongue in cheek!!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ July 01 2005,13:36)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)][I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

At long last, someone who understands the difference between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

Thats true - however, when illegal immigrants break the law, there is no protection for their victims.

For example, if your car is hit by that of an illegal immigrant he/she will have no insurance and you will have to foot the bill.

Also, the temptation to get into crime is strong if illegal immigrants come to this country - as they have no support from the state, they arent able to legitimately get decent jobs where they could use any skills they have and they may not speak english...

So indirectly, they do cost the state. Sometimes a heck of a lot more!

 

[shooter mcgavin]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,13:40)]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ July 01 2005,13:36)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)][I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

At long last, someone who understands the difference between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

Thats true - however, when illegal immigrants break the law, there is no protection for their victims.

For example, if your car is hit by that of an illegal immigrant he/she will have no insurance and you will have to foot the bill.

Also, the temptation to get into crime is strong if illegal immigrants come to this country - as they have no support from the state, they arent able to get decent jobs where they could use any skills they have and they may not speak english...

So indirectly, they do cost the state. Sometimes a heck of a lot more!

Potentially that might be the case. I have a mate that's a copper up in East London, who reckons that the percentage of drivers up there without MOTs and insurance is frightening.

I guess I was coming at it from the drain on the welfare state point of view and that asylum seekers were having a field day on this. Having said that, there are plenty of useless Britons that have managed to scrounge an existence from the state without ever having worked a day in their life, so I guess the entire system is at fault.

 

[Firestorm]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,13:40)]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ July 01 2005,13:36)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)][I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

At long last, someone who understands the difference between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

Thats true - however, when illegal immigrants break the law, there is no protection for their victims.

For example, if your car is hit by that of an illegal immigrant he/she will have no insurance and you will have to foot the bill.

Also, the temptation to get into crime is strong if illegal immigrants come to this country - as they have no support from the state, they arent able to legitimately get decent jobs where they could use any skills they have and they may not speak english...

So indirectly, they do cost the state. Sometimes a heck of a lot more!

True,

But by being illegal they are harder to legislate against, And when an attempt to do it, albeit a bit ham fisted, like the ID card everybody is up in arms about it.

Introduction of legislation to reduce or catch illegal immigrants will impose restrictions on any "legal" individuals liberties . Ie greater immigration control at points of entry, increased stop and search, having to prove your legality (or who you say you are) on demand. That will do the job, but it will antagonise many. But hey, its easier to blindly moan than to sit down and rationalise, and it sells more papers !

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,13:45)]

Quote[/b] (Spaceman Spiff @ July 01 2005,13:40)]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ July 01 2005,13:36)]

Quote[/b] (shooter mcgavin @ July 01 2005,11:48)][I'm less worried about the illegal immigrants though, since they cannot draw money from the state, so although might be working illegally, for cash in hand type jobs, aren't costing the state.

At long last, someone who understands the difference between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

Thats true - however, when illegal immigrants break the law, there is no protection for their victims.

For example, if your car is hit by that of an illegal immigrant he/she will have no insurance and you will have to foot the bill.

Also, the temptation to get into crime is strong if illegal immigrants come to this country - as they have no support from the state, they arent able to get decent jobs where they could use any skills they have and they may not speak english...

So indirectly, they do cost the state. Sometimes a heck of a lot more!

Potentially that might be the case. I have a mate that's a copper up in East London, who reckons that the percentage of drivers up there without MOTs and insurance is frightening.

I guess I was coming at it from the drain on the welfare state point of view and that asylum seekers were having a field day on this. Having said that, there are plenty of useless Britons that have managed to scrounge an existence from the state without ever having worked a day in their life, so I guess the entire system is at fault.

Lizzie from Barnsely anyone

(She of Wife Swap fame...)

Perhaps we could kill two birds with one stone and just get a list of 'economic' asylum seekers (who may be wealth creators lets not forget) and homegrown wasters, then we can choose half and send the others to Oz like in the good old days...

Vote for me!