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Playing the blame game - it's all the immigrants fault...
Strange, but I’d thought we’d plumbed the depths of calumny and distortion around this business of migration and the economy. But employment minister Chris Grayling and immigration minister Damian Green have shown that there are always a few metres even further to go into the detritus of the ‘public conversation’ in their article in the Daily Telegraph this morning.
Whipping up a storm of innuendo and misrepresentation, they link students, tourists and people ‘coming in the backs of lorries’ to the fact that 370,000 people claiming work-related social security benefits were born abroad.
For many of the ministers’ readers there will be no need to go beyond these opening sentences of their article – enough said, and the damage done. We have been given a picture which shows hundreds of thousands arriving and marching straight down to the job centres and getting their slice of the public pie at the taxpayers' expense. What a scandal, the world’s gone mad.
Reality check
Of this 370,000, over one-half are actually British citizens. They didn’t arrive here yesterday – many will have come ten, twenty or more years ago, and are fully a part of British society.
Another point: 370,000 sounds like a big figure, but it represents a fraction more than 6% of the 5.5 million people in receipt of these benefits. Not such a large figure after all.
It might also be worth mentioning that people born abroad make up around 14% of the UK workforce. If they were represented in that proportion amongst benefit claimants we’d need around one million more of these ‘foreigners’ to get down to the dole queue and sign on.
The statistics the ministers are quoting also say nothing about the real cost of the benefits claimants – both foreign-born and native – to the public purse. It’s all very well saying on such-and-such a date 6% of social welfare recipients were born abroad, but how many were amongst the long-term unemployed, and how many just needed help for a month or so before their next job turned up?
Anyone closer to the ground in this debate knows that benefits are only paid out when strict tests of entitlement are gone through by social security officials. Most non-EU migrants who have arrived within the previous five years (or two years if the spouse or partner of a person settled here) are barred from receiving the large number of income-related, child and incapacity benefits which figure in the immigration rule’s ‘public funds’ list.
Even EU nationals, who are supposed to have the same rights as UK citizens in these matters, have to have been in employment or self-employment, or the partners of someone who has, and to show that they are ‘habitually resident’ in the UK before they receive benefits.
The Daily Telegraph article winds down to the conclusion, which most people will never get to, that these foreign-born claimants are receiving no more than they are entitled to under the law. Even here messrs Grayling and Green cannot resist the dig that, maybe, 2% are receiving payments to which they are not entitled. Perhaps, or perhaps not – your guess is as good as mine
The term ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is much used nowadays to describe the sort of dodgy statistical analysis which we normally associate with the outpourings of Migration Watch UK. Ministers of state now seem to have caught this bug and are quite happy to spin feeble grasp of figures into stories which catch headlines and are taken up over the airwaves.
But when so much of the news about the economy and unemployment is as dire as it is, and the tsunami of joblessness that is now sweeping over us is associated with government-induced austerity measures, is it any surprise that some of its ministers would want to leap into the lifeboat labelled ‘In the event of emergency, blame immigrants'?
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Comments
Wow, what a serious mess that article is. Did the Telegraph not fact check a thing? I'm sitting here with a card that says NO RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS. It means no benefits, tax credits, or welfare despite the fact that I have to pay taxes like everyone else.
May I ask, is this more of a jab at the EU immigrants? Because they are mixing us all into a pot rather then pointing out the incredibly strict controls placed on those of us outside the EU, not to mention what they have yet to attempt to enforce.
I'm very bored of the anti-EU, anti-immigration feelings in the news. Sure, it's easy to blame a bunch of other people for your problems, but eventually you have to face up to them. Deciding to spin off the island mentality will only alienate the government on a global scale. We all need each other here, this isn't the Middle Ages!
Having read this article and watched Don Flynn on BBC, l do want to say grazie for your efforts at putting the records straight on the issue of migrants milking the system. The press in an attempt to malign the integrity of hardworking migrants has again shown their bias toward migrants who toil daily regardless of the fact of exploitation by some unscrupulous employers.
Saw Don giving the Newsreader a hard time on the news this morning and rightly so , the Govt need to stop blaming immigrants and step up their own game.
Exactlly like Don said on BBC 24. There is nothing in the data indicating that there are any issues. Everything else is spin!
There's a much bigger problem surrounding this and that is the appalling state of politics and politicians in this country, each party interested in blame rather than governance.
Sky news Glenn O'Glaza stated in his report that only 2% of those getting benefits were classed as 'not entitled'. The rest were immigrants who had worked in the UK paid their taxes and had obtained UK citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain and were fully entitled to benefits.
As has already been pointed out benefits are not paid if the applicant is deemed 'not entitled'.
I have posted on the Telegraph that it is the fault of the UKBA if illegal immigrants are in the UK and authorities like the DWP if those illegal immigrants are getting benefits they are not entitled to.
The ultimate responsibility rests with Government Ministers who are responsible for the UKBA and DWP not with those receiving benefits they are not entitled to.
If the Home Secretary operated a policy in which the UKBA was a competent department which the Home Affairs Select Committee has found quote - ''the chain of command of communication from ministers to senior management to front line staff of the UKBA is a long and convoluted one, and it seems to have become seriously fragmented''.
This comes on top of the findings of the Home Affairs Select Committee also finding the ''UKBA not fit for purpose'.
The problem is clearly with the Home Secretary and the Immigration Minister who have repeatedly applied a flawed policy and run and incompetent department.
The same applies to the DWP who have paid 2% of the benefits to those who aren't entitled to them. Don't blame the migrants blame the Ministers and their incompetent departments!
I think that the "plan" was to shout the words "migrant" and "benefit" together in the hope that it would be all people would remember. As John Humphrey's put it on Radio 4: "Chris Grayling was FORCED TO CONCEDE that there wasn't a problem".
Ed "stronger, tougher" Miliband's response was (predictably) a disgrace: deliberately passing up the chance to say "this report nails the idea that migrants are in any way responsible for unemployment or austerity". Instead, we got something about the Government not keeping to its net migration targets. So Labour would be "tougher" than the Tories. Useless.
Heard your interview on BBC Radio Scotland on way home from work today. Completely agree with everything you said. You should be the leader of the Labour Party and confront the racist bigots head on. Both of my late parents were Irish immigrants who worked to 65 and never took any benefits except the state pension which they paid for. Best wishes.
great stuff Don. I feel like this time for once the government spin machine was on the back foot after the intervention of MRN and IPPR... Maybe next time they will think twice before taking another stab at blaming migrants for underperforming economy.
Normally governments/economists are praised or blamed for economic situation. The UK government may seem really lucky to have immigrants whom they can blame if something goes wrong.
However, if they continue to do that, they will soon face other serious problems like increased hate crime and riots around the whole country (which will cost more than all the benefits immigrants are enitled to and which will completely disorganise the country).
History shows how easily humans follow hate appeals, especially when they are frustrated. Is this what politicians and some media actually want or can't they see they are preparing their very own avalanche?
Agata you make a good point but regretably the Coalition Govt the PM and Home Secretary fail to see that far. As they also failed to forsee the causes of last years widespread riots!
Their answer is to increase the penalties and not look at the causes including a lack of police!
What the PM and Home Secretary is trying to do is prove to the electorate they are tackling immigration numbers. But in fact they are not! They are failing!!
They try to blame immigrants for taking British peoples jobs. Which has been disproved!
The Coalition are playing a politically motivated game to try to win votes as a 'can do' Govt.
But they are failing and their failure is coming to light and the Home Affairs Select Committee are onto it and publishing the facts about the UKBA being competent!
Maybe they are even trying to promote what you suggest could happen which they would use to stir public opinion up even more and worse against immigrants!
So I suggest we all settle back and take a leaf out of the Dalai Llamas book and remain calm and forgiving don't think physical but think philosophical and calmly.
We have a saying '' give people enough rope and they will hang themselves''!
Consider the last 12 months Cameron May and Green their credibility has diminished so keep cool and don't rock our boat. Speak out tell the truth the facts that May is a failure and her policies are flawed which the Home Affairs Select Committee recognises. Hang on in there ok.
@Agata
Within the confines of current history and geographically inside the UK, it kind of makes sense to blame those who come in from outside. Their message to the country is: "stay narrow minded, here is the solution". For those not narrow minded, we are given the question: "do they mean it, or are they just being cynical?".
Our answer to that is quite important, because if they are fundamentalist small-minded then it could be difficult (prepare for, or even prepare, the avalanche); if they are cynical, then some persuasion is possible. Also, are "they" united?
Great stuff Don
As usual, Camerons party have continued to blame immigrants,but in doing so have created a problem that will not go away, instead it will continue to grow.
I really can't understand the mentality of why they picked on immigration, when in fact there are far more serious issues facing the UK.
I think many folks would agree that this was done to earn more votes at the next elections. I think not. but time will tell.
one only has to look at the track record of the present UK government, and it becomes very clear of the growing discontent and problems that they are creating within the UK.
There will no doubt be more riots and race hate, and of course they will blame immigrants.
the posts above, sum it up quite well, and frankly speaking the Government could do well to listen to the people instead of being ham fisted and barbaric with immigration, but they listen not. like bulls at the gate.
Like many other people, I don't know if I will ever be able to bring my wife to Britain understand the present immigration rules that have been imposed on none European members.
Let us hope and pray that people like Don flynn and many others, are able to continue to fight for the rights of those who rightly need it.
and we must also remember that the human rights act is not for those who abuse it, but genuine people who need this help.
because there has indeed been instances where some people have abused the human rights act, this has only helped to undermine something that is good, but has also given others the chance to sieze on the opportunity to try and abolish this otherwise good law.
Anonymous who ever you are you fail to recognise the reality of the situation. The Govt are following public opinion that is being shaped by a popular press who have massive on line circulation, readers and influence. A popular press controlled by Oligarchs who use their positions to influence Govt policy.
The use of 'picking on one vulnerable group' first happened in 1930s Germany with Hitler targeting the Jews. It distracts public opinion away from the true realities e,g, the economy!
The Govt has already found a way to shut down the Immigration Advisory Service who gave day to day advice and practical assistance to immigrants! The Govt found a way to pull the IAS funding to put them out of business of helping with practical support!
The Govt are now trying to influence the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Second the Govt wants to replace the UK Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights!
Cameron has certain popular press stirring up sections of the public against Human Rights.
The Govt cannot do anything about EU nationals entering the UK so they target NON EU nationals. In this they have support from a large section of the British public who live in areas where they feel their towns and societies have been taken over by immigrants. Although many of them are now British born and therefore British citizens!
Your pious hopes and comments are well intentioned but the reality is the problem is more massive and the British public are being indoctrinated against immigrants by a popular press That is what the Govt is using to justify their policies against NON EU nationals!
Anonymous I recommend you buy and read a book written by Malcolm Dean called ''Democracy under Attack'' published by policypress.co.uk.
Baroness Shirley Williams comments '' this book explores an under-discussed dimension of politics - how policy and political decisions are shaped by the popular media''.
I also hope you are following the Leveson Inquiry and noting which 'Owners & Editors' are screaming the loudest!
What planet are you people on?
Of course some immigration is good for both society and the economy but the relatively massive amount of recent immigration (over the past 50 years) has caused untold damage to our country. We were lucky that the last explosion of "newcomers" from Poland and Eastern Europe looked like us, drank like us, and shared most of our values, and have intergated well, but others have not because of there total incompatability with our culture.
The vast majority of the white people in this country (the only group I can speak for)want no more immigration and the removal of all illegals.
if you want to see what a so called multi cultural hell hole looks like, look at London.
How can we possibly have true integration when muslims are forbiden to marry outside their (parents) faith?
No more No more
PLZ STOP BLAMMING NON EU IMMIGRANTS...THEY ARE JUST LIKE A TEA SPOON OF SALT IN DESERT. BAN EU FROM EASTER N EUROPE WHO MOST OF THEM ON BENEFITS AND PURELY COMING TO UK FOR BENEFITS TOGETHER WITH DOZENS OF CHILDRENS. Y NON EU MIGRANTS ARE SANCTIONED ALL THE TIME WITH TOUGHER AND TOUGHER LAWS AGAINST THEM EVERY NOW AND THEN. WHY DO WE SUFFER FOR THEM SAKE. WE CAN'T GET ANY RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS, NO TAX CLAIMS, NO HOUSING BENEFITS NOTHING...WE WORK HARD FOR OUR LIVING AND TO PUT BREAD AND BUTTER ON TABLE FOR OUR FAMILY IF HERE AND TO SUPPORT THEM BACK HOME. HOW COME ON EARTH TRUE HUMAN VALUES WILL EXIST IF THIS THING IS GOING ON..SHAME ON ALL...THAT IS A COMMON SENSE IF A NON EU IMMIGRANT WHO IS NOT ALLOWED TO CLAIM BENFITS HOW WILL HE SURVIVE WITH OUT WORKING, FOR HIS LIVELIHOOD HE HAS TO STRIVE HARD AND WORK HARD TO EARN THAT MONEY..SHAME ON ALL WHO ARE AGAINST LEGAL IMMIGRATION. PLZ STOP THIS NON SENSE NOW. WE HUMANS HAVE NO RIGHTS ON THIS PLANET. NO VALUES, ALL THIS IS FUN AND HUMANS ARE NOT EQUAL. THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHAT IMMIGRANTS GETS WHILE LIVING HERE FOR AN YEAR OR TWO....SHAME SHAME SHAME
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Public opinion can ebb and flow like the tide according to which way the wind is blowing.
The so called popular press have been influencing public opinion in what they report and how they report or evem omit the truth!
The News Intl fiasco, phone & computer hacking now being brought out at the leveson Inquiry has made some Owners and Editors alter their stance somewhat.
The Coalition Govt Ministers from the PM to the Home Secretary have exploited the influences of the popular press that has influenced the prejudices of racist intolerance against immigration.
Up until now the popular press have used their influence to talk down the ECHR and UK Human Rights Act to the extent that PM Cameron has been advocating a UK Bill of Rights!
But out of the turmoil of the News Intl fiasco and the Leveson Enquiry a climmer of hope may be emerging.
In today's Indy is a report that journalists employed by the SUN newspaper, who previously spurned the Human Rights Act, now finding they are being targeted because of 'hacking' allegations are taking an intertest in and quoting the ECHR Article 10 applicable to them.
They also previously shunned the National Union of Journalists but have also changed their minds there.
It is possible other jounalists on othe newspapers may also discover that the ECHR Human Rights Act is in their interests as well as everybody elses and start to promote Human Rights as a necessity as opposed to their previous stance as a hindrance.
In which case the Coalition Govt following popular opinion may realise they have been wrong all the time and may see fit to revise their immigration policy especially as the evidence is emerging that it is indeed completely flawed and will not achieve what the Govt has stated!
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