Illegal immigration is an issue, legal immigration is not. Our economy benefits massively from the influx of working age migrants who are overwhelmingly net contributors to the state. These migrants have no better chance at getting a job than anyone native to the UK, probably a worse chance given the language barriers, the best person gets the job.
The fact that there are thousands of jobs available to migrants and thousands of unemployed people in the UK is a cultural entitlement and benefit system issue which the current government is tackling more firmly than any previous government. Immigration has always driven our economy forward, we need the working age population increase to offset our increasingly aging population.
The issue with pushing the main parties to be even more hard line on migration is they can only curb non-EU migration, and they are already doing so to appease the public. The issue is that its already too restrictive, skilled workers cant get visas, I've got colleagues who have had to decline jobs here because they have been declined work visas, harming the UK economy.
Legal immigration is an issue. Especially in the non skills & Labour markets. Builders, Plumbers, Electricians & other tradesmen are getting hammered because the foreigners are undercutting them.
Its easy to say thats a good thing - but look at the bigger picture. That builder can no longer afford his lifestyle, so while the immigrant becomes a net contributor, we are also losing a net contributor - someone who would have been a bigger contributor. Only person who wins here is the Employer because they have cheaper employment costs. Extend that to the Services sector & retail sector - I understand most of these have a legal right to be here as EU citizens, but end of the day.
More should be done for highly skilled individuals though who needs work permits. More carrot should be offered to employ long term unemployed. more whip to the long term unemployed to get off their lazy arse.
The issue is that its already too restrictive, skilled workers cant get visas, I've got colleagues who have had to decline jobs here because they have been declined work visas, harming the UK economy.
Kinda off-topic, but we faced this trying to get into America. The other half has a PhD and so shouldn't have an issue getting a Skilled workers permit, but I've only got an undergraduate degree, so we figured I would have a hard time getting a work visa there. Now having to fork out several thousand £ to do a masters I don't need other than for the piece of paper, just so we could possibly move to the US in the future. Obama is looking in to changing the skilled migrant laws to entice couples and families over where not everyone is "skilled". I'm sure that'll be met with lots of anti-immigration stuff like we have here, despite it being a good thing.
Another "grass is greener" in the states person 
It's not - as someone who lived there and is married to a yank.
Plus you can get a visa on your undergraduate if you want. H1B, the quota is not filled these days.
I seem to remember warning Sam about that. UK, despite it's problems, is far better. Admittedly you don't pay as much tax but you have to take a holistic whole life ideal. People in Britain live longer on average than those in the US despite not paying as much for healthcare. The 'American dream' is an illusion. 1 in a million might make it big, but for that one thousands suffer.
Yup - America is 2nd world in a lot of places. Dont realise how good we got it over here. Ive done a few road trips in america & once you get onto the open road out of the tourist area's it looks as poor as any eastern european country ive been to.
I voted Labor, not because I really wanted to but the opposition isn't making life any easier for me.
Tory idiot chancellor is trying to kick everyone who is receiving sickness benefits but not yet dead off the list to save a few quid a week and generally dissing people off. He's got no idea of how much people want to work but simply can't. There are two million people out of work, who wants to employ someone who can barely type or make a cup of coffee? They would rather give millions to already rich bankers than pay disabled/sick people at all.
Lib Dems backed the Tories. If anything good came out of this result it is the kicking in the balls they got. Losing 10 seats out of 11? Their leader should have quit instantly and gone jump off a cliff.
Despite everything UKIP has no answers I feel happy with. Yes Britain is crowded, lots of immigrants, but there are no easy solutions. At the moment legislation is in preparation so that if you don't earn over £18,600 you can't legally immigrate your wife/kids into the UK. Another stupid gut reaction from the top of the tory party.
Then again I haven't heard any answers from Labour either. It's just that they are the only ones who have a decent chance to put this bunch of losers out.
I had to show I could support Laura before they would give her a visa.
Its also cost me, so far, around 2500 pounds for the visas.
And thats how it should be... You either prove to support yourselves, prove your supported by others or if its work related the employer should be forced to post a bond that guarantees certain conditions including a plane ticket home if it does not work out.
