They don't. That's a misnomer peddled by the liberal media. Immigration costs this country close to £18 billion each year. They may pay £2.5 billion in tax and NI contributions, but they take out countless billions in tax credits, child benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, prescriptions, NHS costs etc. A non-skilled immigrant couple with two children will pay an average £45 per week in tax and NI, yet take close to £450 per week in benefits, meaning a weekly net loss of just over £400. And this is just one family out of hundreds of thousands. With 2.2 million immigrants workers (the vast majority unskilled), we continue to sustain a dole queue close to 2.4 million. The idea that our indigenous jobseekers are too lazy to take on low-paid work is another lie created by the leftist bigots. We do have feckless bums, yes, but to tar all jobseekers with this slur is treasonous and downright racist. The fact is we do not need to import cleaners, packers, baristas et al when we already have a workforce ready to be utilised. But companies are all too ready to hand contracts to Eastern European agencies, thus perpetuating the benefit trap for own indigenous unemployed. How about the cost of immigrant crime? Thousands upon thousands of foreign criminals are living in our prisons, all at the cost of the taxpayer. Pickpocketing, mugging, sex crimes, fraud, prostitution etc are ubiquitous in the large towns and cities, and the mammoth cost of investigating these crimes places a huge burden on our already overstretched resources. If the EU is to work, it needs to reform from top to bottom. A filter must be placed on immigration, otherwise the immigrants who do abide by the laws and do contribute will suffer for the ills of their continental cousins. It's all good and well to welcome everyone in the hope that a Utopia will be created, yet social cohesion is never factored or considered.
I don't even really know. People can find any set of figures to suit their argument. As long as I don't have to come back and live in the UK I don't particularly give a **** what happens
And are we really supposed to believe Spain will deport all the ex-pats, the vast majority of whom are paying local rates, buying local produce, using local businesses and services, and contributing billions in tax each year? That's about as likely as the Germans refusing to send us their cars, and the French withholding their champagne, and the Italians keeping all the linguine to themselves. All utter bollocks.
That would never happen, M. For starters, we wouldn't have you back. If we remain, you can set me up with a nice pad in the sunshine. Or will the Spaniards refuse to take my cash?
Not sure about that. Gib is the major supplier of marmite and baked beans to the Brits on the Costa Del Sol.
I didn't realise you were a *****, Ponders 1. £18bn a year? You have stats for that? Also, you say they pay £2.5bn in tax and NI, but what about the rest of the money they spend whilst living here? The rent they pay? The services they use? They're part of the economy, they make it work. You mention the NHS, I can't remember the exact figure but it's pretty much still going thanks to immigration, not despite of it. And most EU migrants are skilled workers, not dole-scum. 2. The left attack the jobless now? That's new...We have a minimum wage for a reason, and the laws of capitalism are that people who are most suited to the job will be employed. Why would companies import workers if the UK ones were as competent? Also, your 'vast majority unskilled' comment needs some proof or it's just right-wing xenophobic pish. 3. The UK criminals operate all over Europe too, don't you think we should get some back? Or are our criminals better and more worthy than non-UK criminals? Also EU women are more attractive than UK women, which makes our prostitutes more attractive, think of people like Grove or Aldo that would never have sex unless prostitution existed... 4. Stats on your 'immigrants are criminals' statement please