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Eastern European migrants have paid substantially more in taxes than they have received in welfare, a study says today.
The findings were questioned, however, as the author's previous research was used by the Home Office to claim no more than 13,000 would want to live in the UK. Up to a million came over when former Soviet Bloc nations joined the EU in 2004.
Today's report from University College London, led by Professor Christian Dustmann, said that in 2008/9 the immigrants paid 37 per cent more in taxes than they took in welfare and from public services. Professor Dustmann accused ministers of quoting his previous figures incorrectly.
Reader views (24)
Migrants are of NO benefit to the UK whatsoever
Get a Life and stop believing all this rubbish that is spouted by left wing idiots
- C R H, Durham, 27/07/2009 15:31
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@ Nolan, Londonist
"Don't you get tired of cheerleading each other with the same tired old rubbish?"
actually when lots of people agree with each other, that's called a concensus of opinion. and when one person is saying something totally different to everyone else, that's usually called a blatent lie!
- Barry, woking, GB, 24/07/2009 14:04
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And people like Professor Dustbag get paid for doing this sort of thing! Almost as bad as someone cheating the state!
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 24/07/2009 13:33
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- Nolan, Londonist
What a joke, you suggesting that the rest of us don't live in the real world and then coming out with this claptrap! Even if I did live in Essex (which I don't) and drove everywhere (which I don't) I am sure I would still have more idea of the real world than some professor with his head up his bum, thank you very much! Did you see last week in the news some other professor (a female one) has published her high and mighty scientific findings on how her pet cat wakes her up by purring in the mornings? That is the level some of these "intellectuals" are at. No common sense, yet they get money for old rope like that. Lock them in their bloody libraries and leave them there I say!
- D Woodstock, London, 24/07/2009 11:10
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Yawn. Some insignificant leftie academic trying to draw attention to himself. Best to ignore persons such as this with nothing better to contribute to society.
- Tinkerbelle, london, 23/07/2009 22:41
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Professor Christian Dustmann I think you need a new set of batteries for your calculator
- Mr S.Port, London, 23/07/2009 22:38
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Up to 80% of Somali refugees in my home city are unemployed. This translates into several thousands. Unskilled, uneducated and unemployable, so how can they possibly benefit our economy or our society? And they are just one ethnic group among several who have settled here just to leech off us native English, who are being slowly and inexorably out-bred in our very own city.
- Gordo, Birmingham, UK, 23/07/2009 22:09
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Don't you get tired of cheerleading each other with the same tired old rubbish? Ever thought that just MAYBE someone who puts the time and effort into making a scientific survey has a bit of a better idea of the actual situation than you lot get from peeping out your car window as you drive through on your way out to Essex?
- Nolan, Londonist, 23/07/2009 21:47
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How do you define a londoner nowadays?I thought they were all sent out to live in the sticks years ago.
- Linda, italy, 23/07/2009 21:39
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Its just all about money with these people
- Lb, London, 23/07/2009 17:09
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Does Christian Dustmann´s figures include illegal immigrants and the black economy? I suspect not.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 23/07/2009 16:50
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Would you belive anything the political correct Labour government says ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 23/07/2009 16:37
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Many East Europeans have already gone home or are planning to leave,so what about the millions of unskilled, uneducated migrants here from the Indian sub-continent, Africa, the middle East etc?
The vast majority of them if they do work are in low-paid employment and cost more than they make.
They will never leave even if Britain goes into a major depression.
How do they benefit the UK?
Sounds like I am being hard, but its true, theres too many people here and not people that Britain in all honesty has any need for.
- Russell, London, 23/07/2009 16:19
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To Professor Christian Dustmann,
Don't try and insult our intelligence with this load of hogwash, we are not all stupid and we are not going to fall for it!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 23/07/2009 16:14
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Of course when Iceland joins the EU, we will get reduced priced shopping in their stores.
- William, Hay~Heath UK, 23/07/2009 16:04
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So if he got it wrong the first time by a factor of 75 then his subsequent results could also be out by the same amount. The vast majority of those working in low paid work send as much money home as they can.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 23/07/2009 16:01
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Steve, London - you don't like Londoners either? If you'd only go to the trouble of learning the religious intricasies, languages, customs and social structures of a few dozen different nationalities you'd probably tell a different tale.
I mean - be reasonable mate....
- Rogan, Irving, 23/07/2009 15:58
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We're not stupid! What a load of rubbish to suggest that immigrants have paid more in taxes than they've received in welfare.Such lies.
- Miles, London, 23/07/2009 15:45
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Yawn! How selective.
The 37% has probably been totally wiped out by immigrants from Somalia alone.
Does the 37% factor in the tax relief on salaries their employers get? I think not.
- Mark, South-East London, 23/07/2009 15:39
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His name says it all, chuck it out it belongs in Dustmann's dustbin!
- Val, London, UK, 23/07/2009 15:21
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This claim was exploded as a myth some time ago.
This is a NuLiebour sponsored study whose remit was to find reasons to justify the policy of unfettered immigration.
It may be true that Eastern European migrants have payed more tax than has been paid in cash benefits, but that does not include the cost of public services, such as health and schooling, which will not be covered by tax paid on low incomes.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 23/07/2009 15:07
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UCL? Is that the same University that invites radical Muslim preachers of hate to give lectures?
Seeing as even this government have no idea who is in the country, how can UCL possibly provide accurate figures on any aspects of immigration?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 23/07/2009 14:59
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More Labour spin...No one listens to their lies anymore, we know the truth as we see it and live it every dau here in London.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 23/07/2009 14:53
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Ah,that makes me feel better.What a load of old cobblers.Most are paid cash anyway.They don't integrate and cannot be bothered to learn the language and stick to their own exclusive little cliques.I personally don't like them but then I don't like Londoners either.
- Steve, London, 23/07/2009 14:48
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