Immigration ...
Well, what can we say about this topic that's not been said before ... and totally ignored by anyone with their own biased opinions?
This sticky subject boils down to perceptions, bias, bigotry and fear. To understand it we need first to identify the difference between the groups ~ because although anyone from another country who comes to Britain is usually classified by the ignorant (and the press) as being immigrants, but this isn't the case.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: contrary to popular opinion, they do NOT have access to benefits, housing, or any form of "handout". They can be people who stay in the country after their visa has expired, or those who are brought in illegally by people traffickers, or who are willing to risk their lives to cross the Channel in a boat.
MIGRANTS: come to this country with a visa (or not, currently, if from the EU) to work or study. They can access the benefit system and apply for housing (but with NO priority over others) ~ in the same way UK citizens can do in other countries. Without this trade-off our own countrymen would be unable to do this. They can extend their stay/visas and even apply for citizenship, as could we in their countries.
REFUGEES: arrive in the UK (and most other countries) to escape persecution, war, starvation, etc. They usually need benefits and housing as they will have nothing when they arrive. If given the opportunity, most will integrate, work where possible and contribute ~ or their children will ~ provided they are encouraged and helped to do so.
ECONOMIC MIGRANTS: as with migrants, but their sole aim is to come here for a better standard of living. These usually bring their own money into the country to achieve this. Unfortunately, these days their numbers are swelled with those who escape justice in their own country ~ particularly if there is no extradition treaty with the UK (this includes the plethora of ex-Soviet oligarchs, who bring their ill-gotten gains with them to invest in property ~ with the knowledge and blessing of Putin & Co.)
There are obviously crossovers between these groups, but generally this is the split. So, what we have to decide is, who is it people are really getting angsty about having in the country ~ those who would most likely die if we sent them home, or the criminals those same people don't seem to mind because they have wealth ... which seems to be more suitable currency than need.
And yes, I can agree to a point with those who say anyone who comes over here to live ~ regardless of which group they fall into ~ should learn the English language. But do we ever go far enough to help them to do so? I've observed scenarios where refugees are simply dumped into one property, or area, given benefits to live on and then just left to it.
Surely if we want refugees to integrate fully into British society, we need to make more effort to help with this transition? Or, is it the more Machiavellian reason, perhaps, that it suits the “powers that be” to have them remain ignorant and stand out from everyone else, sheltered within their own new communities ... so their isolation can be perpetuated, allowing fear and hatred to fester both among their own number and the mass of bigots around them?
Those who come here to work, e.g. fruit pickers, warehouse workers, etc., make cheap labour for the bosses ~ helping them to keep wages low for British staff and fanning the hatred a little further ~ a win/win situation for farmers and company owners, all of whom follow only one party and one ethos, that of profit at all costs.
Some bosses moan that they need migrant workers to do the jobs UK workers don't want. But why do you think British workers don't want the jobs? Because they entail long hours for very low wages, poor working conditions and usually back-breaking work. On top of which they are rarely full-time ~ most being seasonal. You would think that such difficult jobs would be suitably well paid, but, of course, that would put prices up and keep profits down, so both the bosses and the consumers are allied in preventing that from happening.
Other migrants you would think should be welcomed with open arms include those trained as doctors, nurses, care workers, etc. But as we have seen from this government's callous and discriminatory treatment of the Windrush generation, they're only wanted while the ruling classes feel the need, but have no guarantee of citizenship no matter how long they have lived here. And now the Tories have managed to destroy each of those sectors ~ draining them dry of funding while providing profit-making contracts to their buddies' companies, turning care into a business ~ hardly anyone other than the totally dedicated want to work in them anyway, or can afford to.
Unlike many with my leanings, I believe there should be limits on the number of people who come into this country from outside. So, before you start shouting "fascist" at me, let me give you the reasons for this:
Firstly, we should afford sanctuary to a fair number of refugees ~ but only if we can offer them dedicated assistance to aid their gradual integration into British society. If this is refused, they should not be allowed to remain ~ but from our side, it must be handled in a positive manner, and those people not just left to fester in the depths of the benefits system. And I'm not talking about people giving up the rights to their religion or heritage, but the UK has its own laws and customs, which should be accepted and not seen as something to be changed to suit those of the country they have chosen to flee from.
And, there is a real and obvious way to stem the tide of refugees around the world ~ that is to stop British companies making and selling arms to countries who oppress their people and force them to flee ~ but I can guarantee you, there will never be a Tory who would sanction that methodology.
Secondly, I would severely restrict ~ or even eradicate ~ economic migration. Do we, or should we even, have the need for them? Convince me people! Most economic migration at the top level is for the purpose of money laundering, and at the lower level, because of a belief it is easier to make higher profits in this country than their own.
Thirdly, illegal immigrants should be given a chance to plead their case to remain (particularly if they have been victims of trafficking), but if their appeal is unsuccessful, they would need to be sent home. And this must be assessed in a non-prejudicial manner based on the circumstances in their own country and their potential cost or value to our own society.
Finally, legal migrants ~ with a trade/profession and a job waiting for them (or at least an interview) ~ should be allowed entrance. But, after a set period of time, they should be required to take a basic citizenship test which, when passed, would give them the same rights as anyone who was born in the UK, in return for their contributing to the health and wealth of the nation (as they say). Part of this test must be an acceptable level of both spoken and written English ~ because without this, they will always be looked upon by many as being outsiders and will never integrate properly.
There must also be severe penalties imposed on all media etc. who portray people entering this country under the incorrect definition, e.g. calling migrants "illegal immigrants", and all falsehoods in the press should carry massive fines, limited in number, so, for example, after "three hits" (i.e. three instances of lying to the public about issues that regard race, etc.) that publication should be taken under government guidance and workforce control, with no compensation to their owners.
Only through these methods can we slowly begin to stem the tide of prejudice in the UK and begin once again to be a beacon of light in the world, and not just simply another oppressor ... and the stigmatism surrounding immigration/migration can be eradicated.
... and, I'm sorry if this means your f*cking strawberries at Wimbledon will be a little more expensive ~ live with it!!!