Election Year or Fear!

[ramAnag]

Just for the sake of perspective…apparently net migration was halved in 2024 (source ONS/BBC) and there were about 6k fewer asylum seekers living in tax payer funded accommodation in March 2025 than December 2024.

Not claiming it’s all down to the new Government of course as they only came into power a little over half way through last year however it’s always useful to look for the positives.

In the meantime, Badenoch responds with ‘the numbers are still too high’ and Farage adds, ‘not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous.’

Not commenting here on the rights and wrongs of migration - after all I’m still enjoying the hospitality of my ‘migrant family’ in the U.S. - but maybe we should all remember that Labour have only been in power for just over ten months and, for those obsessed by migration, it surely must be seen as a step in the approved direction.

[swaledale]

Just for the sake of perspective?apparently net migration was halved in 2024 (source ONS/BBC) and there were about 6k fewer asylum seekers living in tax payer funded accommodation in March 2025 than December 2024.

Not claiming it?s all down to the new Government of course as they only came into power a little over half way through last year however it?s always useful to look for the positives.

In the meantime, Badenoch responds with ?the numbers are still too high? and Farage adds, ?not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous.?

Not commenting here on the rights and wrongs of migration - after all I?m still enjoying the hospitality of my ?migrant family? in the U.S. - but maybe we should all remember that Labour have only been in power for just over ten months and, for those obsessed by migration, it surely must be seen as a step in the approved direction.

Labour also seemed to ahve deported over 24,000 failed asylum seekers, which begs the question why the Tories found it difficult to do so. Or, are left lawyers not taking action when its a labour government, or even stranger perhaps this government is actually observing the legal requirements and getting on with the job? Not a word about this of course becuase things running as they should are never news!!

[Geoff Parkstone]

On the need today I thought I heard that the main reason net immigration was down was because far less students are coming to UK (under labour) which I would see as net bad news for university finance if nothing else

[Andy_Faber]

It would appear from reliable fact checking sources, including the BBC, who all confirm that HMG have declined to give their own sub analysis, that HMG have not ?deported? 24,000 souls, the majority having left voluntarily. HMG have returned less than 4% of those arriving by boat in the period in question (just over 1,000 of nearly 24,000)

Claimed by the government, disproved by the fact checkers, disbelieved by the majority, believed by the gullible (see above).

[Trickytreesreds]

It would appear from reliable fact checking sources, including the BBC, who all confirm that HMG have declined to give their own sub analysis, that HMG have not ?deported? 24,000 souls, the majority having left voluntarily. HMG have returned less than 4% of those arriving by boat in the period in question (just over 1,000 of nearly 24,000)

Claimed by the government, disproved by the fact checkers, disbelieved by the majority, believed by the gullible (see above).

Most of those left with a cash incentive, not Labour taking the problem by the nuts.
The Home Office has also posted a video on X, showing people being escorted onto planes by immigration enforcement officials, with the words: "we have removed more than 24,000 people".

But the claim is misleading. The government's latest figures show that only 6,339 of these were "enforced returns". Of those, they were ex cons like Albanians where we can now send them home, or others who had failed their legal blocking attempts. The majority were "voluntary returns" - and a significant number of these happen without the government's direct involvement or even knowledge.

So, in effect, lying through his teeth again.

[Trickytreesreds]

As for the immigration figures. Phooey. it was 5 mins ago Camerons time, that immigration was 30-40000 a year.
Yet folks celebrate it being 500 000 a year?

It is also pointed out that Brits fleeing the country has risen sharply, bring those figures down.
Starmers claims lead a lot to be desired at the best of times. Facts do not seem to be his strong point and he thinks everyone believes what he says.

Just made himself look a berk with his latest claim and rant.

https://news.sky.com/story/labour-sa...iffer-13372714

[swaledale]

On the need today I thought I heard that the main reason net immigration was down was because far less students are coming to UK (under labour) which I would see as net bad news for university finance if nothing else

Not sure this analysis supports your view, other than for dependents.

Looking in more detail, non-EU+ immigration has dropped by more than 350,000 since a year earlier. There was a 49% (or 108,000) decrease in immigration for work (main applicants). Meanwhile, the number of work dependants fell by 81,000 (35%). The fall in immigration for study (main applicants) was smaller at 17% for the same period. However, student dependants dropped by 86% from 121,000 to 17,000.

Yes of course a reduction in immigration due to less coming to study is not a positive for university finance, though there might be some positive spin off from Trump's attack on US Universities. However, there were according to sources a growing number of fake schemes whereby student visas were issued for non existent courses. For every action there is a cause and effect.

[swaledale]

It would appear from reliable fact checking sources, including the BBC, who all confirm that HMG have declined to give their own sub analysis, that HMG have not ?deported? 24,000 souls, the majority having left voluntarily. HMG have returned less than 4% of those arriving by boat in the period in question (just over 1,000 of nearly 24,000)

Claimed by the government, disproved by the fact checkers, disbelieved by the majority, believed by the gullible (see above).

I'm not sure your description of GP as gullible is true but no doubt he will forgive you.

Disbelieved by the majority, ah your at it again with that delusion that your views represent the mainstream! If your going to make a statement claiming somebody else's statement is false, then its probably best for your credibility to avoid making a statement that definitely isn't true.

What's true is that 24,000 have returned, some voluntary, some with government assistance and some deported. One can't blame the government for highlighting this fact and claiming responsibility, after all performative politics is what a large proportion of the population seem to want, irrespective of whether anything is actually been achieved.

Meanwhile in other news 3 significant trade deals have been signed off, the one with the EU being the most significant and whilst some fisherman are bleating that they haven't gained anything, its a fact that any deal involves compromises that there are winners and losers and in terms of the benefit for the UK economy and businesses its win. Of course its only a step towards reversing the terrible and economically devastating deal that Johnson negotiated, which has cost the UK so much.

[swaledale]

I note that the media, including The Guardian and the BBC are using the term U turn to describe Labour's decision to review the thresholds for eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance.

But this is surely incorrect? I mean a U turn would be to restore it as a universal benefit paid to all, which is not what has been said. For me its a sensible decision, the overall policy of removing it from people who didn't need it was sound, its execution was badly thought out. But at least the mistake has been acknowledged and hopefully they will remove the cliff edge whereby people become ineligible for WFA who are just a few hundred pounds over the current threshold.

That to me is grown up politics, but doubt it will be recognised by many, given the rather negative attitude of of both media and many voters these days.

[Andy_Faber]

Interesting to see on the TV news last night, two of the three people approached in the vox pop stated (I paraphrase) that there are too many immigrants in their area not prepared to contribute to the common good and just looking for what they can take. ?Bloody right wing gammons? goes the cry from some of our little band, but hang on: both were first generation immigrants, a small sample maybe but my guess is they know better than we do