Number of Romanians and Bulgarians employed in the UK FALLS after open borders

[-:Undertaker:-]

But we do have control; not choosing to exercise infingements is not the same as not having to power to do so. Turning a tap on isn't the same thing as having no control over the water pressure in your sink

We have no control over that tap, under EU Law.

The Freedom of Movement pillar is a founding part of the EU, whilst within the EU the British Government cannot control EU immigration. Period.

[peteyt]

You don't like them when they're here and claiming benefits but you don't like it when they have jobs either... the rise in overall numbers working here without a corresponding figure showing that the same amount are newly arrived shows that they've already been here before but have now managed to find employment, which is surely a good thing for everyone. Basically what we're seeing is absolutely normal - people coming here and looking for work, then getting it.

For me the problem isn't that they are coming, it's that there's too many already here and more and more are coming. I think we need to be a lot stricter on population control and reduce the numbers of people coming in as well as removing all who come here but don't work and get on benefits

[Kardan]

For me the problem isn't that they are coming, it's that there's too many already here and more and more are coming. I think we need to be a lot stricter on population control and reduce the numbers of people coming in as well as removing all who come here but don't work and get on benefits

I think the only party that wants to actively reduce the number of people already in the country already is the BNP, the others just want to stem the flow or keep it as is?

[FlyingJesus]

For me the problem isn't that they are coming, it's that there's too many already here and more and more are coming. I think we need to be a lot stricter on population control and reduce the numbers of people coming in as well as removing all who come here but don't work and get on benefits

Do you also think we should deport people who were born here but never work or does circumstance of birth give one person more rights than another?

[peteyt]

Do you also think we should deport people who were born here but never work or does circumstance of birth give one person more rights than another?

Maybe not deported but at least penalised. I don't think anyone who can work but doesn't should get away with being on benefits. In my opinion benefits should be only for people who cannot work due to issues e.g. disabilities or for people looking or in between jobs as a way to keep them going e.g. bills, food etc. and to help them with their job e.g. transportation, clothing etc. I think if people aren't actively looking for a job or are doing their best to avoid a job e.g. being purposely bad in interviews then they should start to lose some of their benefits bit by bit, basically forcing them to get a job or ending up with no money. I know there's the worry of homeless people there, but I do think most people would actually work if they knew they couldn't get money from benefits and at the moment people get too easily trapped in the system.

As to immigrants, I have no problem with people coming over to our country but this needs to be controlled and have a limit to avoid over populating a country that can hardly support its own people let alone others. These people should have to work to. I'm sick of people coming over and going onto benefits but the government unable to do anything about them. If they want to be in our country, that's fine, but I'm not paying for them to do nothing.

[FlyingJesus]

That does happen already

[peteyt]

They could be a lot more strict.

[FlyingJesus]

More strict than stopping all payments and forcing people to do unpaid work like they currently do? If you don't know what you're talking about, don't talk about it

[GommeInc]

They can't receive benefits. If they plan to live here for more than 3 months they need to prove they're looking for work and are financially stable. If they can't, they're out. It's a huge misconception that benefit tourism exists when it only really does if you're working - and if you're paying into the kitty then maybe you do deserve some financial support.

[Firehorse]

This video gives a good balanced view on this: it discusses why the big influx may have been a misconception, but also questions the credibility of the figures being discussed in this thread.