Isolation from Europe wouldn't be splendid for the UK?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Who's got the highest figures?

Turkey.

And France is second.

We're up there close to France, much as you'd expect from one of the larger countries and top economies in Europe.

Hiding behind percentages is OK Hamish, but this says it all.....

Actual numbers are a bit meaningless in terms of judging impact though aren't they?

After all 100 immigrants moving into a village of 100 people would certainly be noticed....

While 100 immigrants in a society of 100 million would be utterly inconsequential.

Am I a racist again!? Doh!

No Graham, I actually don't think you are.

Those against immigration broadly fall into two camps.

Racist...... or ignorant, easily manipulated by racists, and economically illiterate.

And like I say, I don't think you're racist.:)

zagubov

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Much as you'd expect from one of the larger countries and top economies in Europe.

But actual numbers are a bit meaningless in terms of judging impact aren't they?

After all 100 immigrants moving into a village of 100 people would certainly be noticed.... While 100 immigrants in a society of 100 million would be utterly inconsequential.

We're always told by the [STRIKE]racists[/STRIKE] sorry, "people concerned about the impacts of immigration" ( :rotfl: ) that we have uncontrolled immigration and that the UK is a mecca for immigrants, attracting far more than our fair share.

Except that's really b0ll0cks though isn't it?

That chart proves we attract pretty much exactly our fair share on a per capita basis.

Quite right. The UK is not overcrowded and is not swamped by immigrants compared with other countries.

And EFTA already exists. Before we joined the EU we were the largest of the seven member states. The remaining four are surviving quite well and don't have to enact all EU regs despite what you hear on these threads. Only concern for the UK would be that EFTA's about a quarter the size it was before so would they be happy to absorb a big country like the UK.

Fella

The Eurozone is in decline. The UK should not be pinning their future on trading with the Eurozone. It's a big world & the rest of it won't impose all the expensive red-tape & garbage that the EU forces on the UK.

Buffett

Agree with Fella, I think the UK would be far better off focusing on making a free trade zone or similar with a little entity the British setup which we've almost forgotten about ... the Commonwealth!

Only about 2 billion people in the Commonwealth, almost all members are growing far faster than the EU and present wonderful trade opportunities for the UK.

France is sinking into an abyss right now, 2013 could be a very tough year for the EU.

homelessskilledworker

My biggest concern right now is Bulgaria and Romania, the clock is now ticking and in 2014 there is nothing to stop millions of them entering our country.
Bulgaria for example has millions living in severe poverty, not the "UK poverty" where those on welfare live better than many workers in many cases, but real go hungry have nothing poverty.

If I was one of those struggling Bulgarians my bag would already be packed(if I had a bag), and I would be heading for the most generous country when it comes to welfare, Mmmmmm, now which country would that be.

PaulF81

Most Romanians and Bulgarians couldn't be bothered to pack a bag. If you look how they live, it looks as if they can't be bothered to get out of bed either.

GeorgeHowell

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

My biggest concern right now is Bulgaria and Romania, the clock is now ticking and in 2014 there is nothing to stop millions of them entering our country.
Bulgaria for example has millions living in severe poverty, not the "UK poverty" where those on welfare live better than many workers in many cases, but real go hungry have nothing poverty.

If I was one of those struggling Bulgarians my bag would already be packed(if I had a bag), and I would be heading for the most generous country when it comes to welfare, Mmmmmm, now which country would that be.

The one good thing that may come out of this is that it might well be the straw that breaks the camel's back in terms of convincing a compelling majority of the electorate that we just have to leave the EU.

PaulF81

Either that or the big issue will take a hammering. Perhaps you could get bonus points for tripping up Romanian beggars on the tube? Those idiots really nark me off. Once caught one of their teenage kids pick pocketing whilst mum was begging. Nearly snapped his fingers like twiglets.

homelessskilledworker

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Much as you'd expect from one of the larger countries and top economies in Europe.

But actual numbers are a bit meaningless in terms of judging impact aren't they?

After all 100 immigrants moving into a village of 100 people would certainly be noticed.... While 100 immigrants in a society of 100 million would be utterly inconsequential.

We're always told by the [STRIKE]racists[/STRIKE] sorry, "people concerned about the impacts of immigration" ( :rotfl: ) that we have uncontrolled immigration and that the UK is a mecca for immigrants, attracting far more than our fair share.

Except that's really b0ll0cks though isn't it?

That chart proves we attract pretty much exactly our fair share on a per capita basis.

Hamish

How many Romanians and Bulgarians do you think will come to the UK in a years time when the gates will be opened for them. And how many millions do you find acceptable?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

Hamish

How many Romanians and Bulgarians do you think will come to the UK in a years time when the gates will be opened for them. And how many millions do you find acceptable?

Well hopefully quite a lot, although I do worry that Germany will steal a large number of them.

The economic projections that show the UK becoming the biggest and most successful economy in Europe within the next 38 years count on Germany's near inevitable decline through an ageing population not being reversed by increased immigration.

Because even though they currently have the most immigrants in Europe, it's nowhere near enough to prevent their economy declining over the medium term as their ageing crisis kicks in.

As for how many are acceptable?

However many are required to maintain or improve on the current balance between workers and pensioners.

Essentially, we need to keep net migration somewhere above 250,000 a year, although more would be nice.