The EU Referendum.

[astral276]

Overall, immigrants pay more to the country through taxes etc than they take out. The problems with the NHS are due to lack of investment by the government. Similarly, the lack of school places and of houses. Again lack of investment by the government.

With uncontrolled migration you cannot differentiate between those who are going to contribute and those who are not.

Equally with uncontrolled migration you cannot control the flow, and so cannot plan the infrastructure to accommodate them.

Even in the case of those that are going to contribute they need provision of all the services and infrastructure (doctors, hospitals, schools, housing, social services, etc.) from day one. That is long before whatever they are going to contribute is seen. If the country was awash with money then it might be manageable, but it isn't and it's not.

Immigration needs to be controlled to allow those in that have something to offer and what they offer is needed by the UK, arrive at a rate the country can cope with, and keep out those a danger to the country.

Controlled immigration does not mean no immigration or the deportation of anyone who looks or sounds 'a bit foreign'. It has already been stated than in the event of a Leave vote that the intention is that anyone legally domiciled here under current EU free movement law would remain.

[sidthelamp]

It's obvious what the less than one percent. Olivia expresses herself more clearly than you do.

Do you really mean that official figures "do not take account of those who came in through the FRONT door"?

Overall, immigrants pay more to the country through taxes etc than they take out. The problems with the NHS are due to lack of investment by the government. Similarly, the lack of school places and of houses. Again lack of investment by the government.

yawn

[moonwitch]

ALSO. many of the migrants are working in the NHS and other public services that will collapse (see above example) without them.

I have met many of these immigrants working in our hospitals but if I can't understand what they are saying and ask for an English speaker that could be seen as racist.

When talking to medical staff about my treatment, prognosis and so on I expect to be given this information in a way I can understand.

[astral276]

I have met many of these immigrants working in our hospitals but if I can't understand what they are saying and ask for an English speaker that could be seen as racist.

I refused an operation once because the consultant couldn't speak English well enough to explain it and the associated risks. Even a nurse that was brought in couldn't understand what he was saying to translate.

What some people don't get (maybe because they don't want to because it doesn't suit their case to) is all those NHS staff from overseas are not going to be put on the first available ships out on Friday in the event of a leave result. They will have the right to stay if they are legally here and the NHS will continue to recruit any overseas staff it needs, just as it has always done. You don't need the EU freedom of movement to recruit staff from any country in the world - including from within the EU. That's what controlled migration is all about, you welcome those you want and turn away those that you don't.

[Anniemcc2]

My sister-in-law is on duty at her local polling station - apparently the queues were round the block BEFORE the 7am opening time.

[moonwitch]

My sister-in-law is on duty at her local polling station - apparently the queues were round the block BEFORE the 7am opening time.

I think I will try to ignore the TV news today and check back tomorrow.

[astral276]

I think I will try to ignore the TV news today and check back tomorrow.

Well, I can honestly say that I haven't watched any of the TV 'debates' on the EU referendum. I did try a couple of times but only lasted a few seconds as they were like playground squabbles with one person just shouting the other down.

I'll also give the coverage today a miss and just wait until the result is announced tomorrow.

[PetBazaar]

...and so cannot plan the infrastructure to accommodate them...

We plan our infrastructure?

That's the biggest surprise of the referendum so far.

[olivia8143]

I refused an operation once because the consultant couldn't speak English well enough to explain it and the associated risks.

Was is a brain operation? You could have gone ahead, there wouldn't have been any risk

I've voted, so as far as I'm concerned this thread is closed and I can go on holiday.

[astral276]

We plan our infrastructure?

Probably not. It is impossible when you don't know how many to plan for. Without that knowledge you either underestimate and fail to provide enough - resulting in overload of existing services, or you over estimate and waste money and resources on services that aren't needed.

Only when you know the number coming in, or can control the flow to fit currently available services, can there be any hope of a 'plan'.

The plan needs to be for years ahead and not just reacting to the current situation. Even if the money were available (which it is not) it takes years to plan, build, recruit, train, etc. Services do not just magically appear overnight.