On 1 January 2014, Bulgarians and Romanians were given
the same rights to work in the UK and all other EU countries as other EU
citizens. From this a crisis among UK
Citizens occurred as newspapers were headlining “British families will ‘lose
out’ from influx of cheap labour from Romania and Bulgaria”, “BENEFITS BRITAIN
HERE WE COME”, “SOLD OUT! Buses and flights full as Romanians and Bulgarians
head for the UK!”
In response to public concern about the
arrival of Bulgarians and Romanians, Mr Cameron is preparing to announce limits
on their ability to claim benefits. EU nationals have to wait three months
before becoming eligible to claim welfare, a time limit that could be double
under plans that could be set out as soon as this week.
A poll by Channel Five showed that 47
per cent said people from the two countries should have no rights to work,
settle and claim benefits. Another 18 per cent said they should have more
limited rights than other EU nationals. A quarter said they should have the
same rights.
However, since January 1st
there has been no invasion of Romanians or Bulgarians and some argue that
Britain will benefit from having Romania and Bulgaria’s better educated
citizens support the British economy.
ITV news reported from Luton airport meeting
with Romanian Victor Spiresau who has entered the UK to work and make money .The 30-year-old said he earned 10 euros a day working
on building sites at home and that he hopes to make 10 euros an hour here, but
was not planning on settling."I don't want to stay here. I want to
renovate my home and to make a good life in Romania because it's much easier to
live in Romania because it's not expensive."
Mr
Spiresau said he already has work lined up washing cars in London but hopes to
go on to work in the construction industry. He said he chose to come to the UK
over other European countries as he can speak the language.
DO MIGRANT’S MAKE BRITAIN A BETTER
PLACE? Do you think immigration has had a positive or negative impact on the
UK? Do migrants contribute more to society than they take out? And should
Britain be prouder of its migrant communities? Where do you stand?
N
Don't forget the benfits we have reaped from past immigration waves; Asian immigrants who moved 40 years ago have settled and built thriving businesses, contributing towards UK GDP growth.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly, immigration is the sign of a good society and ultimately, good for society.
ReplyDeleteActually Britain has benefitted from immigration more than those who are against immigration care to admit.
ReplyDeleteBritons have probably been the most prolific illegal immigrants in the history of the world. At one time or another, we invaded 9 out of 10 of the world's countries, and created an Empire that became the world's biggest richest single market. Our wealth came from this Empire of countries who didn't join it voluntarily and who lost their independence and resources for the benefit of the 'Mother country'.
We don't have an Empire anymore (thank goodness). But we are members of the European Union - today the biggest, richest single market in the world. All member countries joined voluntarily and are free to leave. We all profit from the core principles of the EU: a commitment to democratic governance, human rights, protections for its 500+ million citizens, and the free movement of people, goods, services and capital.
So I am firmly in favour of the European Union and the free movement of EU citizens – call it immigration if you have to, but I call it the freedom of European citizens to travel across our continent. That’s how it should be, and any threat to that right, which our parents and grandparents fought hard to achieve, must be strongly resisted.
See my latest blogs on these subjects at www.eu-rope.com
Hello Jon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. I have also read your blog and I find it astonishing that the Daily Mail will not admit to writing false and inaccurate articles regarding the Bulgarians and Romanians entering Britain. They claimed that 50,000 Bulgarians and Romanians will be ‘invading’ Britain to steel jobs when in fact it was no more than 30 most of who were returning from a visit back to see their families. There was no increase from the amount of Bulgarians and Romanians who entered the country last year. It seems that the Daily Mail and other news papers have tried to demonise the Bulgarians and Romanians as job and benefit thieves.
Britons are just as able as other members of the EU to go out and get these jobs but a Bulgarian or Romanian may be chosen because they are better qualified and harder working. No human being should be discriminated on for what nationality they are. If we were to go to another country to work we would be outraged if there were discrimination and racism towards us, the Daily Mail should be ashamed for what they have written. All members of the EU should be treated equally as we all have the same human rights.
The media who have painted this evil picture of Bulgarians and Romanians should be made to rectify the bad name they have given them as what they have written is also promoting racism in what should be a liberal society. The more that is publicised about this issue, hopefully people will change the bad opinion some Britons have of Bulgarians and Romanians and welcome them and others into our country just as we would expect to be welcomed into their countries.
Thank you. Please consider joining me and making a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission regarding the Daily Mail's story. The more who complain, the better.
DeleteDetails of how to complain are on my blog.
I will do, I most certainly agree!
DeleteI agree with the free movement of EU citizens and I will add that if it's done in the right spirit, everyone will win. Bring a sense of belonging, duty and be part of something great, and all those "immigrants" will thrive and therefore contribute a great deal to what ever community that have the right attitude towards them. Each community in the world have their qualities, strength and motivations. Bring them all together for a same purpose, and watch an amazing world build around you.
ReplyDeleteHi Dany,
DeleteThank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. I agree, if all members of the EU were to unite and work together equally a much more effective workforce would occur. It is unfortunate that some Britons are blinded by the media and label other nationality's unworthy to work in this country. In fact, other members of the EU are a lot more hard working than the British and do the jobs that Briton label menial. Hopefully, the UK will move forward from this and welcome the free movement of EU citizens.