Migration figures expected to shatter Cameron's 'tens of thousands' pledge (again).

[Mr Angry]

Ooops! Uncontrolled immigration.

"Net migration to Britain is now higher than it was when David Cameron took office despite his “no ifs, not buts” promise to cut it to “tens of thousands” by this May’s general election, new official figures are expected to show on Thursday.

The last set of quarterly migration figures before the general election are now widely expected to show that Cameron and the home secretary, Theresa May, have spectacularly missed their politically sensitive target to reduce net migration below 100,000 by this May.

The figures to be published on Thursday are now expected to show that it has actually risen above its original level of 244,000 when they took office in May 2010 and promised to cut it by more than 60%."


Guardian.

[Taf]

That's on a national level, at a local level it is obvious that certain areas are filling up with incomers, who are displacing locals out of that area. More coming in than are going out. Integration? I've not seen a lot of that. And it's the poorer areas that are the most affected, out of sight of our ruling classes.

[Ignitionnet]

Highest gross and net immigration since at least 1970, so probably on record, beating even Labour's record *Snigger*

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31638174
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...at-298000.html

EDIT: Osem, you might need to edit your signature; seems given even Labour couldn't manage 298,000 a year they don't deserve the title of being the party of uncontrolled immigration anymore.

Not the highest net figures - that was in the year ending June 2005, when it was 320,000...

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migrat...-feb-2015.html

[heero_yuy]

To promise something that didn't have a snowballs chance in hell with the EU and HRA judges lined up against him was very foolish. Now he'll pay.

Who cares another broken promise not the first won't be the last and could be worse could have been labour in power every cloud and all that.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Who cares another broken promise not the first won't be the last and could be worse could have been labour in power every cloud and all that.

Given Labour are apparently the party of uncontrolled immigration this would be par for the course for them. I'd say that for the party that claimed they'd reduce immigration below 100,000 to be in power with these figures is way, way worse than if it'd been Labour.

I think this is hilarious.

We need to move to a points-based system, with residency being subject to being employed.

My bro-in-law has been in the USA for four years with a Work Visa (not a Green Card), and if he loses his job, he has 3 months to find another one (with Work Visa sponsorship, it is not transferable), or he is out of the country (and he is a homeowner in the US, with a medium six figure salary).

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Hugh

We need to move to a points-based system, with residency being subject to being employed.

Not going to happen.

The Conservative party's donors are big fans of the EU; ensures that more agile, smaller competitors have to jump through costly and time-consuming hoops and hence aren't so agile.

The financial cesspit that is the City of London also enjoy their status as a major centre for money laundering and fraud, with easy access to Europe and a compliant and acquiescent regulator and government that turns a blind eye to illegal actions so long as you say you're sorry and pay a fine.

What evidence I've seen indicates strongly that the offer of a referendum is very much going through the motions. The ruler of the EU has made it very clear that negotiation of free movement isn't on the table and the PM has no intention of campaigning for 'out' regardless of negotiations.

The EU know the negotiations are a superficial attempt to pacify the Euro-sceptics in the party and the public and that regardless of their outcome all three of the major UK parties would be campaigning for an 'in' vote, with EU propaganda backing them up.

If immigration policy is a priority to anyone voting Conservative is tricky. Their donors love the cheap, virtually unlimited supply of labour more than anyone.

[Osem]

Now wash your mouth out Hugh!!!

We all know what Labour's game plan was and sadly their removal from office hasn't changed very much because we have no real controls over EU migration so to that extent the 'pledge' was a stupid one. We surely can't go on accommodating hundreds of thousands more inhabitants every year. For me, the big question is will we have to wait for our infrastructure to grind to a halt before something meaningful is done to restrict entry. I'd like to know who's looking at population growth forecasts and what the 'plan' is for providing housing, services etc. for the equivalent of 2-3 new cities the size of Cambridge every year.

[Ignitionnet]

The plan for services is the Big Society I believe, and there is no plan for housing. If we were to build enough houses the landlords in the Conservative party, along with other parties, may see their rental yields diminish and of course it may slow house price inflation and make people feel less wealthy.

When you have an economy built on people flipping houses, feeling wealthy as their house prices go up and hence spending more you have to be careful about housing supply.

Immigrants are great for ensuring house price inflation and a supply of tenants, though.

Ok don't bash private landlords I did it once and got told I didnt realise what a hellish existence it is for anyone to be a private landlord so please don't bash these national heroes on this forum. No proper house building project is going to happen anytime soon lest houses become affordable no party wants that stain on their record and there will always be the above heroes to provide affordable, excellent quality housing so we don't need to be concerned about it.