ThunderDragon Blog

More than half of new jobs created in the last decade have gone to immigrants. I have no problem with the immigrants coming in and working. They are coming here and doing the jobs which are available, helping our economy expand.

But I do have a problem with the millions of Britons who just sit on the dole, rather than taking these jobs for themselves. Get off your lazy arses and work! I can’t see how it is not possible for any of these people to get any sort of job at all. They may have no skills, but there are always supermarkets or construction sites that need workers! It may not be nice work, but every job has to be done by someone, from cleaning the toilet, to sweeping the road, building houses, all the way up to running the country!

Every job has to be done, and I can’t see how low-skilled immigrants can come and get a job so easily and yet so many “indigenous” people are unable to. It doesn’t make any sense. Get off your arse and get a job. It may not be a great job or for great pay, but why should us who do work pay for those who literally just can’t be bothered?

If you actually have real medical problems, fine. If you are actually unable to get a job - and actually continue to try to get a job - any job - then fine. But you’re just lazy, tough. No more dole money for you.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has apologised for misleading the British people:

Truly a shocking thing to hear from a Labour minister. Well, until she undermined it by continuing to speak after the first sentence.

But the most important thing is: did she show off her tits whilst making this faux apology?

Can’t speak English, can’t come in?

If they can speak the language then they can integrate into society better, yes, but should it be a pre-condition of entry?

It is strange that the condition that they must speak English to enter Britain has applied to highly skilled migrants since last December and is soon to also apply to skilled immigrants - but not to low-skilled workers. Surely that’s back to front? Skilled and highly-skilled workers are bound to be far more useful to the economy, and be able to do jobs that low-skilled natives can’t. Thus wouldn’t it make more sense to have low-skilled workers need to be speak English to enter and work rather than those with useful skills?

A willingness to learn the language and to integrate is going to be more important than knowing the language already. Instead of a pre-condition of speaking English before entering, instead it would be better as a condition to remain in the country. Britain needs migrant labour, and reducing the skilled migrant influx by more than a third wouldn’t help.

Instead of a condition before entering, speaking [and learning] English, along with a demonstration of a willingness to integrate, should be required in order to settle in Britain. Brits who go abroad to work don’t always [or even usually?] know the language of the country they are moving to, so why should we demand it of those who enter Britain to work?

Sources: BBC, The Telegraph

The amount of money spent on providing documents translated into foreign languages should be cut, says Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary. She said that:

“I think speaking the language is absolutely key… [L]ocal authorities can ask really hard questions about whether or not we are providing a crutch and supporting people in their difference, or whether translation is being used in the appropriate circumstances…
I do think translation has been used too frequently and sometimes without thought to the consequences. So, for example, it’s quite possible for someone to come here from Pakistan or elsewhere in the world and find that materials are routinely translated into their mother tongue, and therefore not have the incentive to learn the language.”

It is good that she also points out that in some places such translation is essential - such as in casualty wards - and as such translation levels should not be reduced.

Kelly certainly does have a point. Immigrants should be encouraged to learn English of they come to live in the UK. In fact, it should be pretty much a requirement for permanent residence. Without being able to speak the language of the nation, how can they properly live in society as a whole? Not being able to speak English properly means that that person is massively restricted in social and economic means, and cannot act independently outside of a small certain group - and they cannot ever integrate properly without being able to communicate.

An immigrants who makes a choice to come to Britain makes the choice to come here. They are not made to, although they may be directed by economic imperatives - but it is still a choice. I have no problem with immigration to a certain extent, but those who do choose to come must learn our language, as I would if I chose to emigrate to a non-English speaking country.

I know that I suffer from a certain level of linguistic arrogance, as I can’t speak another language and I could never really see the point of learning them at school [about all I can remember of my French is that "piscine" means swimming pool, and of my German GCSE that "fahrt" means journey, "gespeilen" is to verb "to play" and I can count to ten]. However, I don’t - and won’t - move to other countries and expect them to speak my language. Speaking loudly and slowly doesn’t work. Those who move to foreign non-English speaking countries and don’t learn the language are at least as bad as those who come to Britain and don’t learn English. If anything they are worse, as they expect everyone in their new country to speak English as well!

Money that would otherwise be spent on short-term fixes such as translated documents should instead be spent on providing classes for people to learn English in.That is a long-term solution, and helps everyone - especially the immigrant themselves. Britain is a linguistically homogeneous country - certainly there are no significant linguistic minorities, such as the Spanish speakers in the US - and so English really must be learnt to at least a certain extent by immigrants. Without it, how can they function in general British society?

Source: BBC, The Times

Tul Bahadur Pun, won the Victoria Cross for action in Burma during the Second World War, in which he demonstrated “outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death”. The Gazette article on his award can be read here.

He has finally been given the right to live in the UK, after a widespread campaign. Liam Byrne, the Immigration Minister, said:

“The circumstances surrounding Tul Bahadur Pun’s case are clearly exceptional, and in the light of this the Home Secretary, John Reid, and I have reviewed the case and made the decision to grant Mr Pun a settlement visa immediately. This decision was not taken lightly and reflects the extraordinary nature of this case, in particular Mr Pun’s heroic record in service of Britain which saw him awarded the Victoria Cross. It is entirely right that this record should not only be recognised but honoured.”

It’s good that he has been given the right he deserves. And it only happened due to public pressure. We can make a difference.

via Iain Dale and Mr Eugenides

Sources: BBC, Iain Dale’s Diary