[basa]

Originally Posted by andyl

Thanks - interesting source which also shows the highest recorded outflow of migrants from the UK to the EU; the highest level of immigration and emigration for a decade (global movement gaining pace?) and net migration at just 150,000;......

That was in 2003. I believe the popular figure now is 250,000 net.

Originally Posted by andyl

.....that 28% of employers seeking to employ migrants, with the number rising to 40% for organisations employing over 500 people;....

Cheap imported labour. Good for business and Govt, but bad for natives looking for work.

Originally Posted by andyl

Iraq, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan toping the asylum application list (can you spot any connection there?); only 13,000 people were granted asylum in 2003.

But how many denied asylum still remain here, including those using UK Tax payers cash to fight their case ?

Originally Posted by andyl

Yes, most migrant recruiters are in London; as I said before this is a conseqnence of economic not immigration policy.

Irrelevant .. there are ghettos all over UK. Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford.

Originally Posted by andyl

In response - an opinion; in suggesting we should keep out all Muslims and bar expression of the faith, we are over-reacting.

I don't know the answer to this, maybe better immigration checks. All I do know is I am uncomfortable living alongside foreigners who could well be harbouring bad if not lethal thoughts about my fellow natives and our beliefs.

Originally Posted by andyl

No, that's an opinion, not fact. An opinion not borne out by reality I might add (in my opinion!)

We'll have to agree to differ. I see many people supporting illegals right to challenge our immigration laws and Tax funded legal challenges in the Courts.

Originally Posted by andyl

More concerned about getting run over by a lunatic driver frankly; it's called risk assessment

That is a risk at least you have *some* control over by being aware whilst on the roads. Suicide bombers give no warning and as I said you can't identify a terrorist until the bomb has gone off.

Originally Posted by andyl

Who said anything about unregulated immigration? All I seek is a fair system which takes into account the real risk of persecution which people may face (in places like Congo, Zimbabwe etc to where we are currently repatriating with seemingly gay abandon) and does not discriminate according to race.

Likewise, but it appears to be very inefficient at present, possibly due to underfunding and overload.

Originally Posted by andyl

Well we are free to do the same across Europe. Do you think the word 'union' implies anything like, I don't know, unity?

IMO it appears the majority coming in are from the poorest EU nations of the old Communist Block, what are called economic migrants. It would be unusual if there was an equal exchange of Brits going out there. A great many of those from these countries are poorly educated and rely on UK Benefits.

My wife was recently in college alongside a Rumanian girl who stated that if she stayed in tertiary education for 3 years (free to her of course) she then also qualified for free housing. How can that be right ?