We have lost control of our national borders
NO CONTROL: With reference to the letter from J M Burke (The Sentinel, November 9).
I too am a regular viewer of David Dimbleby's Question Time on BBC1 and I agree that the programme featuring Nick Griffin, of the British National Party, on October 22 gave me the impression that it had been set up and that Nick Griffin was not given a fair hearing.
I would like to see him on Question Time again. I would like to hear the BNP's policy on immigration and, more to the point, how they propose to round up and deport the many thousands of illegal immigrants who have managed to avoid the border controls over this past decade.
But I believe the roots of the problem could be laid at the door of the late Harold Wilson and his Labour government all those years ago when they brought in the Commonwealth Immigration Act allowing any citizens of the Commonwealth – most of our former colonies – to come and reside here and, as Harold said, it gave us the right to live in their countries. The Conservatives opposed the Act and as the late Enoch Powell told them, this country would never be the same again and he gave his prophecy that it would result in "rivers of blood" in future years.
And so they came in their thousands and thousands to 'latch on' to our welfare services and our benefits system with stories of some of them even claiming for children that they had left behind in their home countries (no records were available to query the claims). These things enraged most people in this country and I am afraid that for many the feelings are still there. This was utter madness on the part of the Wilson government who, as I remember it, passed the act to fill vacancies in our labour force. Our current Government has been sadly lacking in the control of our borders and without doubt this has exacerbated the feelings that people already had towards the immigration problem.
ALBERT DICKINSON
Sneyd Green
39 Comments
View all
by mh, stoke on trent
Monday, December 07 2009, 6:10PM
“MANDY STATED...''I assume all of you commenting on here have always paid your tax, never worked cash in hand and never paid anyone cash in hand, never bought of the back of a lorry, never had a family member who has needed to claim benefit and are honest as the day is long, ''
actualy mandy, your exactly right, amazingly enough, youve hit the nail right on the head, the above paragraph that you posted fits me to a snug glove..DOES IT YOU?”
by mandy, newcastle
Monday, November 30 2009, 9:27PM
“Sorry Paul a little confused. What is it that has exposed a nerve?”
by paul, newcastle
Monday, November 30 2009, 8:18PM
“ooh Mandy,you havementioned well to do twice.I'm sorry did I expose a nerve lol”
by mandy, newcastle
Monday, November 30 2009, 7:29PM
“or, simply, do not share your views.”
by E.B., Stoke
Monday, November 30 2009, 6:59PM
“Mandy, Sorry about the shouting.”
by E.B., Stoke
Monday, November 30 2009, 6:56PM
“Mandy,you ar either a political activist,or a lost cause,I tend to think you are the former.
I believe that if jesus christ told you there were massive problems with immigration you would call him a liar.Even the goverment have admitted they have huge problems,but they must be lying to.You will look back in a year or two and realise how silly your comments were,do-gooders have had their day Mandy,it is time the people of this country looked after their own,and before you jump on your racist bandwagon,when i say the people of this country
i mean people of any colour,or creed.”
by mandy, newcastle
Monday, November 30 2009, 5:06PM
“E.B its rude to shout.”
by mandy, newcastle
Monday, November 30 2009, 5:02PM
“Arthutr - apprenticeships - employers not government have been very short sighted in the past 30 years and they have not invested in apprenticeship schemes. Employers & Nationalised Industry in the 50's,60's and early 70's supported apprenticeship schemes which enabled the UK to create a skilled workforce. The opportunity to continue building upon our skilled workforce has been squandered by British Industry.
There is no longer Family Allowance - it is Child Benefit which every parent residing in the UK ,from those on income support to families with an income of over 150k are entitled to. The qualification to receive it is proof of birth i.e. a Birth Certificate.
£1600 per week to house a family? Why would a rent be so high? That is what I would question not the nationality of the family living there. They do not decide the level of rent on a property. The landlord does.
Do you know anything of the family's circumstances? Do you care? I think I know the answer to that.
You are, I think, suggesting that agencies offer jobs to workers from the EU in prefrence to UK workers as agencies own the majority of private landlord housing stock, which they then rent to them. Really!! Amazing research , one polish guy (the same guy Tim knew?)
If an individual is working legitimately they have a national insurance number and pay tax and NI contibutions. They will only be able to claim benefit If they have the right to reside under benefit regulations - the majority do not satisfy this condition so cannot claim benefit. If they have paid a certain level of NI contributions in three years they MAY be entitled to claim JSA or ESA. If they are here illegally they cannot receive benefits as they have no national insurance number.
Oh and in response to MH, you didn't actually provide any statements of fact, just questions and suggested I open my front door, well constructed arguement, well done.
I assume all of you commenting on here have always paid your tax, never worked cash in hand and never paid anyone cash in hand, never bought of the back of a lorry, never had a family member who has needed to claim benefit and are honest as the day is long, always buy british and wouldn't give a blind man a light. Makes me proud it be British it does that. Such sterling upright folk (not well to do mind).”
by E.B., Stoke
Monday, November 30 2009, 4:32PM
“THOUGHT FOR YOUR DAY MANDY.
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOUR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE U.K. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET
* FREE HEALTHCARE
* AN UNEARNED INCOME
* HOUSING.
* FREE EDUCATION FOR YOUR KIDS
* FURNISHINGS FOR YOUR HOME
* FREE DENTISTRY
* FREE USE OF AN INFRA-STRUCTURE PAID FOR BY THE TOIL AND TAXES OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS
* THE FREE USE OF ALL SOCIAL FACILITIES
* FREE TRANSLATION SERVICES
* AGENCIES THAT WILL HELP YOU SETTLE IN
* ONLY GENUINE CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO WORK. THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR YOU.
NO WONDER THEY QUEUE;
IT'S THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
Keep taking the valium Mandy.”
by Arthur, Bradwell
Monday, November 30 2009, 3:47PM
“Mandy ,unemployment in this country is nearing 3 million how many of this figure have had jobs taken by people from other countries?why would we need people with skills from other countries if the government had invested in apprenticeships etc earlier than now?why do we pay family allowance to people from other countries,how do we know they actually have kids?why do agencies offer people from other countries more of the jobs,the answer is because they also rent off them(told to me by a polish gentleman).In todays papers £1600 per week to house a family from Somali.Is it any wonder people are upset”