UK population up by 500,000

Graham_Devon

Commentators are currently questioning how this is sustainable in regards of our transport system, housing, healthcare, schools etc.

The main driver was net migration, adding 260,000 to the population last year. Natural growth added 226,000.

Last year we were told that migration was not the key driver in the growth of the population, whereas it clearly is. It's above the yearly average by some margin.

Meanwhile, lorry drivers in Calais are being threatened with knives. One lorry driver on the news this morning said he's had migrants standing in front of his lorry wielding a knife while running his finger along his throat - basically threatening the lorry driver to let them on board.

If anything, the intensity is increasing, not decreasing.

Generali

I guess it's a reflection of the relative success of the British economy.

People want to go where there are jobs. If you have more taxpayers then more infrastructure can be supported.

Graham_Devon

Generali wrote: »

People want to go where there are jobs. If you have more taxpayers then more infrastructure can be supported.

That's the theory.

The reality though does not appear to be playing the theory out.

C_Mababejive

I suspect that most economic migrants and fake asylum seekers are working in the black economy most notably, in those crummy fast food joints that infest every high street in the country. Also in wooly pully factories of which there are plenty in the back streets of our big cities.

purch

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Commentators are currently questioning

Who cares what John Motson thinks :eek:

Bring back Richie, at least he kept quiet for a lot of the time.

CLAPTON

Generali wrote: »

I guess it's a reflection of the relative success of the British economy.

People want to go where there are jobs. If you have more taxpayers then more infrastructure can be supported.

indeed that is so and of course it reflects the relative failure of the rest of the EU : why would we wish to be member of a failing organisation, inflicting great harm on a large number of its citizens.

of course larger infrastructure spending to support a larger population, doesn't, of itself make anyone better off: but of course the people do benefit from higher house prices and higher rents.

Generali

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I suspect that most economic migrants and fake asylum seekers are working in the black economy most notably, in those crummy fast food joints that infest every high street in the country. Also in wooly pully factories of which there are plenty in the back streets of our big cities.

I dunno. Goldman Sachs was full of various Euros and Commonwealth people who were on very good money.

Don't assume that migrants come to the UK to be poor. I

C_Mababejive

Generali wrote: »

I dunno. Goldman Sachs was full of various Euros and Commonwealth people who were on very good money.

Don't assume that migrants come to the UK to be poor. I

You may have a point. Maybe the Captains of British Industry and the hot shots of Canary wharf should head over to Calais and set up a recruitment fair? They could then sponsor candidates to enter Britain as there is no no other UK subject who could possibly do that job...a bit like the US work visa.

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Meanwhile, lorry drivers in Calais are being threatened with knives. One lorry driver on the news this morning said he's had migrants standing in front of his lorry wielding a knife while running his finger along his throat - basically threatening the lorry driver to let them on board.

Haven't they heard about the high rents?

Generali

CLAPTON wrote: »

indeed that is so and of course it reflects the relative failure of the rest of the EU : why would we wish to be member of a failing organisation, inflicting great harm on a large number of its citizens.

That's very clearly what I didn't say.

The Italian, French, German and Spanish economies face various headwinds but it's quite a leap from that to saying that a group of economies which form the single biggest market in the world which creates a good standard of living for hundreds of millions is a failing organisation.

kabayiri

I'm not sure the number of net migrants is the most important aspect.

We are still a London-centric economy, and migrants will choose the place where they can personally prosper. So would I in their situation.

However, we need more of these migrants to head to the North. Scotland has a big demographic issue, and there is a lot of space for expansion there.

So how do we get Scotland (e.g) to spend more now to attract these economic migrants? If you create centres where there are large numbers of economically focussed; motivated people then business and industry will follow. The SNP have said they believe in migration; we should let them borrow to achieve this aim.

The alternative, to expand London into a mega city, doesn't address the need to balance the UK economy.