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Most Britons want jobless immigrants to be asked to leave
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent16 Mar 2009
MORE than three-quarters of Britons believe jobless immigrants should be asked to leave the UK, according to a new poll.
The finding will raise fears that the far-Right BNP could prosper in the recession as unemployment rises.
In addition, more than half of the adults in Britain who took part in the FT/Harris survey opposed the right for citizens from other European Union countries to work here.
Outspoken immigration minister Phil Woolas admitted that the Government, despite years of tough talking on immigration, had yet to convince many voters that it had properly tightened Britain's borders.
"The poll figures are not a surprise, they are a concern, and in significant part they are because they public don't believe that the Government has got control," he said.
"The central goal of my immigration policy is to provide the assurance to the public that we know who's here and who's not here."
Immigrants from Eastern Europe have been generally welcomed by people in Britain as they have been seen as skilled tradesmen and women and to have filled gaps in the workforce.
However, the poll also found that more adults in the UK, 54 per cent, than in Germany, France, Italy or Spain, are against citizens from other EU countries getting a job in their country.
Just over half of those interviewed in Britain strongly supported the idea that the Government should ask unemployed immigrants to leave the country, with about a quarter "somewhat" backing such a policy.
Only the Italians felt as strongly on this issue.
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the findings reflected Labour's failures over immigration combined with pressures on the jobs market.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has faced criticism for his slogan "British jobs for British workers" and the country was hit by wildcat strikes this year over the use of foreign workers at an oil refinery in Lincolnshire.
Town halls in London are to get millions of pounds to help deal with a surge in immigrants.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears will this week unveil plans for a £50 fee for immigrants to the UK from non-EU countries.
The scheme is expected to raise around £70 million over the next few years with funds being distributed to councils having to provide extra health, education and other services because of the influx of newcomers.
Several town halls in London, including Hammersmith and Fulham, have complained they are being underfunded because of flawed population figures.
Reader views (50)
"More than three-quarters of Britons believe jobless immigrants should be asked to leave the UK". Politely of course!
- Frederick, London, 17/03/2009 09:35
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Anyone who thinks EU citizens shouldn't be allowed to work here should consider what would happen if the hundreds of thousands of British ex-pats in the EU were forced to come back here. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.
- Roy, England, 17/03/2009 09:32
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As can clearly be seen from the postings here the right wing have a solution and the left wing just whinge but have no answers.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 17/03/2009 08:15
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Ahmed of Dubai, all of the Gulf states couldn't last a day without western expats. The difference is in the gulf states all expats work and are needed. Britain does not need any immigrants at all. What do you think the Gulf states would do about assylum seekrs and illegal immigrants? You know they would all be kicked out immediately
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 17/03/2009 07:45
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This has been the view of the vast majority of indiginous British citizens for the last 10 years, but this incompetent Labour government put their heads in the sand. We do not need ANY immigration. It should be stopped immediately. The open door policy has sunk this country. Our only salvation is with the BNP. Vote BNP and make our arrogant out of touch politicians sit up
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 17/03/2009 07:38
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Steve, London - you're probably right about the more extreme views. The trouble is that you are lumping in all of the moderate views from those who DO have **considered** opinions too. There are far too many immigrants, legal and otherwise, who are as content to live off the largese of others as the more shiftless, socialist created benefit living professionals who are British born (Note - I do not refer to race at all here). They AND their families - of those resident in the UK either legally, "escaping-persecution-in-their-homeland-economic migration, or illegals milking the system to stay once they manage to cross porous borders, are entitled variously to have their family with them.
Go to a benefits office, discount the elderly and the older workers who sadly have always had trouble finding new work when made redundant, and who do you have left side by side with unmarried mothers?
That's not racism, which I have noting but contempt for, but reality.
- Rogan, Irving, 17/03/2009 01:37
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Britain is a very difficult country for a foreing to live
as is a lot of bias against other nationals, and yet
millions of english ( british ) people lives and work abroad and they call themselfs "ex pats " when the fact
is they are immigrants in others people country.I am sure
they would not like to be descriminated when abroad.
- Paul Satchell, Tenerife -Spain, 16/03/2009 23:20
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Kick out all British living anywhere outside UK and send them back to Britain, then it would be fair. I dont see what is the BIG deal about living in the Financially stricken Britain anyway!!!
- Billy Jeanne, Maryland USA, 16/03/2009 22:08
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Hmm I've been British-educated since kindergarten, I've just graduated from the LSE and I've landed a British job. Does this mean that even though I sound and look like all of you and I don't 'scrounge benefits', I ought to go back to where I came from?
- Ed, London, 16/03/2009 22:07
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I see Ahmet's point, but the article is about jobless immigrants, not those who already have jobs. I may sound quite right wing, but it would make sense if a scheme was arranged where the unemployed had to 'earn' their benefits (ie clearing litter/manual labour etc.) Any able body who does not have responsablities like caring for someone young/elderly/non capable can be 'conscripted' to help councils and their workers who are struggling due to the economic climate.
Stalin used a similar method (but using prisoners who were not paid) to build railways and roads at a much reduced cost. This brought Russia into the modern world within 5 years (I understand many lives were lost in the mines, but I do not mean to be as naive as that).
- Warren, London, 16/03/2009 16:42
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Once again an ambiguous story about immigration results in a flood of poorly disguised racism. Most people have clearly failed to think this issue through.
Two 23 year olds - one came here 5 years ago, working and paying tax and NI all that time but has just lost his job. The other was born here but has never had a job and has been living on benefits since leaving school. How could you possibly deny that the first guy is entitled to support? And if not from the uk then from who? His home country towards whose economy he has contributed nothing?
How about a wife who moved here with her husband andwould like to work but can't find a job?does she have to go despite being supported by her husband? And if that's ok then why not parents, children or other dependents? Do they have to work or leave even if they take no taxpayers money?
This is obviously not a black and White issue but, as always, it's treated as one by those with their own right wing agenda.
- Steve, London, 16/03/2009 16:41
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Ahmed has totally missed the point - the foreigners in Dubai etc are working or self-supporting, they are not jobless, semi-literate and scrounging benefits. The governments in the Gulf States can expel the foreigners whenever they want. It is worth remembering that the Nazis (and leftists please note it was NSDAP - the National Socialist German WORKERS Party) rode to power on a wave of extreme right wingism caused largely by mass unemployment. This danger is lurking in the wings.
- David Chown, bordeaux france, 16/03/2009 16:15
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I paid income tax and Nat. insurance for over forty years.And at one time, employed up to twelve people, all paying as well. -Then I lost my business, and received the basic jobseekers allowance for six months only. -After that-Zilch, -not a penny allowance even for dental treatment or spectacles. -Even had to find council tax money although I earned nothing. My wife paid this as she earns a modest salary. -Now 3 years later, slowly trying to establish myself as self-employed from home.
When I hear of foreigners being paid benefits and allowances,-sometimes for non-existent children, and extra wives, -can anyone tell me why I shouldn't vote BNP at the next election? I find racism ignorant and vile, but when we all seem to be being led up the garden path by political correctness or politicians who seem happy to 'give away Britain' we are pushed into a corner to vote for the only people who seem to care for our traditional values.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 16/03/2009 16:04
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In this case do the same in the UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi is dominated by english, european and indians. Arab graduates in the UAE cannot get a job because half of the jobs are taken by english ahead of our students. SAME issue. So its a 2 way street dont make it a one way route, kick those out in England ie: arab immigrants and the english come the other way.
- Ahmet, Dubai, 16/03/2009 15:37
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As far as British Jobs for British Workers, I think we should first start with Football. Boot out all the foreigners...
- Jules, Brittany France, 16/03/2009 14:57
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"the public speaks" - yes on online posts and polls - but do even 1/2 the people actually bother to vote - I think not. And don't say - "who listens".
"we can't afford the world's jobless -let alone sick" - who are you people?
It seems like compassion has left these shores along with sense and balls to stand up and demand change. If all the immigrants left - who would clean our toilets, our streets, sort through our rubbish and all those nasty jobs that us "brits" don't like doing.
Yes there is a problem - and the problem is not just governnment it's the bile of these anonymous posts.
It just shows you can't be too careful.
- Jc, se1, 16/03/2009 14:47
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I cannot beleive how some people can just simply say its ok as long as they are not claiming any UK state benefit, in other words let them all in and give them all the jobs in the UK so they can make money and take back to their country which enables them to buy properties back home, while our university, college and school leavers are pushed to the side. Great future they have to look forward to.
- Kleo, LONDON, 16/03/2009 14:37
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It would not make the slightest difference. Benefits are paid into accounts, no questions asked. Jobless migrants can go home and still be paid benefits! We will be paying child benefit for years for children who are not, and never were, in this country. You don't even have to have a child. You can simply invent one, or two or fifteen. The whole thing is a joke; and expensive joke for those of us are stupid enough to work and pay taxes.
- Beatriz, London, 16/03/2009 14:33
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Immigrants should be entitled to no benefits unless they have steadily worked in the UK for over three years; then they should be entitled to 6 months unemployment / job seekers allowance. They should not be entitled to housing or other forms of welfare, this is provided by their home nation and is available if they need it. Personally I do not see the BNP as far right. I have read through their policies and most of them are spot on and champion common sense, something this present government knows nothing about.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London, UK, 16/03/2009 14:20
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Eat your hat then Janey C - in France and Spain you get about 80% of your previous income paid. Here you get 60 pounds a week.
Anyway I find someone from Scotland complaining about foreigners getting benefits a bit rich, since we English taxpayers are subsdising you...
- Marc, London, 16/03/2009 13:41
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ALL immigrants should be asked to leave, then there would be a huge gap in the jobs market and more of our own would be able to go back to work.
- Louie, London SE, 16/03/2009 13:32
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They should be made to leave but how that can happen when this imcompentant Government have no real idea of the extent of what they have done. Ship the Government out at the same time!!!
- Helen, London, 16/03/2009 13:31
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We just cannot afford to fund the world's jobless, or even the world's sick. Let those who want to do so, pay extra tax.
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh, 16/03/2009 13:26
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i guess that finally the penny has dropped that your average Brit has had enough of the enforced multicultural 'open door' that has been the norm for the past 20 or 30 years, and that the drip..drip..drip erosion of our fundamental culture, has turned into a torrent of legislation and enforcement seemingly aimed at making it as easy as possible for the worlds flotsam and jetsam to rock up at our shores, whisper the magic word 'asylum', and thereafter enjoy a life of taxpayer funded benefits, whilst being free to condemn our lifestyle, tradition and habits - all with the support of a myriad of brit hating pressure groups, charities and do-gooders! Well, the tide has turned, and the next elections are going to be a very nasty wake-up call for certain groups!!
- Gary, amersham, 16/03/2009 13:25
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Wonder hope many of the poeple who voted to get immigrants out are bankers who are the real reason our country is in the gutter.Its almost as if people are looking for a scapegoat. Yes we have too many immigrants in the country, but they shouldn't be blamed for all our problems.
- Terry, London, 16/03/2009 13:20
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I have always found it strange how the same people who accuse immigrants of stealing “our” jobs are the same people who accusing them of being dole scroungers if they are out of work and on benefits. Before we judge maybe we should consider that some of these people may have been here years and built a life for themselves here, and yes, contributed to our society and economy. If they are unfortunate enough to find themselves out of work because if the current economic climate, why shouldn’t they be entitled to sign on like anyone else
- Nj, London, 16/03/2009 13:18
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There are plenty of jobless British people abroad and no space in the UK to accommodate them. Think again.
- Ola, London, 16/03/2009 13:08
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Totally agree Sue, This Government has left the Immigration system in this country in an absolute shambles. They don’t have a clue or grasp of how many people have entered this country or let alone left. I’m am sick and tired of my taxes being squandered by this government on people who are using this country as a cash machine. They seem to think this idea of a point system will work, who know’s… Why has it taken 11 years for them realise they have got it wrong?
- David, London, 16/03/2009 13:02
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Hear, hear Sue of Orpington, Kent
If anyone can tell me of ONE OTHER COUNTRY that funds unemployed immigrants the way the UK does - I will eat my hat!
In any other country you have to work to provide for yourself or do without.
Its an absolute disgrace the money that is spent on people who contribute absolutely NOTHING to the UK's economy.
The motto should be Be prepared to work and fund yourself or LEAVE!
- Janey C, inverness scotland, 16/03/2009 12:56
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First second and third generations.Exemption for the 'old empire'.
- John Harris, High Wycombe UK, 16/03/2009 12:41
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If they've paid their NI contributions then they're perfectly entitled to receive benefits here. Same as UK citizens. EU citizens get the same rights as we do in their countries. I worked in Spain for several years and am entitled to part pension there and would have been entitled to a much more generous set of benefits than I am here if I'd ended up out of work.
Enough of the little/middle England attitude to foreigners
- Rick, London, 16/03/2009 12:30
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Yes they MUST leave, but also ensure that they take their savings with them (which they may have accumulated after years of working in the UK). This could lead to trillions of pounds leaving UK.
What they must also ensure is that they sell their homes before leaving (Further Crashing the already struggling UK market for both Rental and Owned). They must also sell any kind of investments before they leave as well.
Its is becoming more and more important for immigrants to abandon this sinking ship...
- Rickym, London, 16/03/2009 12:23
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Nobody should ever be allowed to come here unless they can prove they have a job and accomodation Moreover, they should pay for health care, schooling and other public service for at least the first five years. We have been a soft touch for too long!
- Richard, Welling, Kent, 16/03/2009 12:14
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No, not asked to leave. TOLD to leave! I'm sick to death of this country being a soft touch and totally spineless (just like all our politicians).
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 16/03/2009 12:08
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Agreed Graham, the govt is deaf now but it will surely hear from us at election time
- Jeremy, Chelmsford, Essex, 16/03/2009 12:08
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We now have an Australian style points system. This is used to let people in not keep them out. Citizens from the EU have a legal right to live here. This can only be changed by leaving the EU, a policy that is not supported by any of the three major political parties, so it's not going to happen. You can't tell illegal immigrants to leave if they haven’t got a job because as they are illegal you don't know who they are. As the credit crunch starts to hit harder in the third world there will be more economic migrants (legal and illegal) coming to this country.
- Mick, London, England, 16/03/2009 11:56
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Simply make them leave never mind asking
- Mike, London England, 16/03/2009 11:46
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My parents came into this country, studied and worked hard. These days we have a lot of immigrants who arrive, who do not wish to work, learn the language or to integrate. I agree, we should have the same rules as Dubai. Rather than tax payers money going towards more lazy people. Its not being rascist, its about the fact that I want my taxpayers money going towards the citizens of this country.
- Jk, Kent, 16/03/2009 11:46
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They should simply not get UK state benefits. If they can legally support themselves off savings or relatives' kindness, no problem. If they can't, they should be returned to their own country to claim benefits there.
- Nigel, London, 16/03/2009 11:37
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How many ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS are There?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD, 16/03/2009 11:15
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I am SHOCKED APPALLED ASHAMED and EMBARRESSED by the results of the pole.
- Jules, Paris, France, 16/03/2009 10:58
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It wouldnt matter if 99% of Brits agreed, the government will never step away from its mass immigration,
Their is only one thing to do....vote them out and keep them out.
- Lb, London, 16/03/2009 10:50
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Agreed - make them leave - why should they be able to claim benefits. What have they put into the community or country?
- Barbara, sydney, australia, 16/03/2009 10:46
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We don't owe them anything and they are not entitled to anything. We should be like other nations when it comes to hiring short term labour and make sure they leave if they no longer work. This country can't afford to spend money on migrations needs.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 16/03/2009 10:43
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If you lose your job in Dubai, you lose your working visa, have 1 month to find another or you have to leave the country.
Lets do the same.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 16/03/2009 10:07
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Hardly surprising. Its a bit like a boat thats over-loaded. Sooner or later it will sink.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 16/03/2009 10:02
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They should not be asked to leave they should be told to leave (once) and then forcibly removed.
If they do not have work how are they living.? Benefits? This country is broke and we do not need anymore hangers on as we have enough worthies of our own thank you very much.
- Maggie, london, 16/03/2009 09:58
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"Most Britons want jobless immigrants to be asked to leave"- I don't believe that this is strictly true; most Britons would want unemployed immigrants to be TOLD to leave or removed if they refuse to go willingly.
Likewise with illegal immigrants. We are full and skint; we can no longer afford to allow NuLiebour to continue turning a blind eye to this.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 16/03/2009 09:37
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No immigrants should be allowed in (or allowed to stay) unless they meet an Australian style points system. It's worked well for decades in their country. We are an island: how hard can it be to keep these people out?
- Thomas, London, 16/03/2009 09:33
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the public speaks, buy the government is deaf....
- Graham Grimshaw, Ruislip Uk, 16/03/2009 09:32
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