‘THE only people who never make a mistake are those who never make a decision,’ is a truth which I first heard from John Major.
He was absolutely right.
That’s because, however careful you are, as a Minister, in your analysis, many decisions are based upon predictions about the future, where, ultimately, your fate is in the lap of the Gods.
One spectacular mistake in which I participated (not alone) was in lifting the transitional restrictions on the Eastern European states like Poland and Hungary which joined the EU in mid-2004.
Other existing EU members, notably France and Germany, decided to stick to the general rule which prevented migrants from these new states from working until 2011. But we thought that it would be good for Britain if these folk could come and work here from 2004.
Thorough research by the Home Office suggested that the impact of this benevolence would in any event be ‘relatively small, at between 5,000 and 13,000 immigrants per year up to 2010’.
Events proved these forecasts worthless. Net migration reached close to a quarter of a million at its peak in 2010. Lots of red faces, mine included.
Analysis of what has happened in the past is infinitely easier than what should happen in the future.
Research published this week by University College London says that immigrants who arrived after 1999 were 45 per cent less likely to claim state benefits or tax credits than UK natives in the period 2000-2011, and that those from the EU ‘put in considerably more in taxes and contributions than they received in benefits and transfers’.
Even those from outside the EU area contributed two per cent more in taxes than they received, compared with indigenous Brits who paid 11 per cent less in tax than they got back.
I have never under-estimated the social dislocation that can occur when large numbers of people from abroad settle in a particular area – as has happened in East Lancashire. But this latest research makes me feel a little better about this well-intentioned policy we messed up.
Comments
Is he seriously asking us to believe he knew nothing about open immigration being advocated to "Rub the noses of the right in it"-as revealed by a top Blair adviser?
Is he seriously asking us to believe he knew nothing about open immigration being advocated to "Rub the noses of the right in it"-as revealed by a top Blair adviser?
Is he seriously asking us to believe he knew nothing about open immigration being advocated to "Rub the noses of the right in it"-as revealed by a top Blair adviser?
Is he seriously asking us to believe he knew nothing about open immigration being advocated to "Rub the noses of the right in it"-as revealed by a top Blair adviser?
It's all very well to say that they paid more in net tax than they took in benefits, but what about the extra benefits which, as a result, were then paid to UK residents who otherwise could have been doing the jobs that the Eastern Europeans took ?
It's all very well to say that they paid more in net tax than they took in benefits, but what about the extra benefits which, as a result, were then paid to UK residents who otherwise could have been doing the jobs that the Eastern Europeans took ?
As remembrance Sunday approaches lest we forget, Our eastern European allies who stood and fought shoulder to shoulder with us against the Nazis. The brave polish air force pilots in particular. So remember this when you call the foreigners for simply trying to better themselves and life for their families.
As remembrance Sunday approaches lest we forget, Our eastern European allies who stood and fought shoulder to shoulder with us against the Nazis. The brave polish air force pilots in particular. So remember this when you call the foreigners for simply trying to better themselves and life for their families.
Remembrance Day forgetfulness . . .
Jacky Boy, how about helping out your best friend Tony with a war abroad so yours truly can make lots of money afterwards?
Erm, all right then!
Not much of a ‘difficult decision’ was it Jack and yes, what a massive mistake it turned out to be.
I’m all right Jack!
Lest we forget:
God of our fathers, known of old
Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies
The Captains and the Kings depart
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away
On dune and headland sinks the fire
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.
Remembrance Day forgetfulness . . .
Jacky Boy, how about helping out your best friend Tony with a war abroad so yours truly can make lots of money afterwards?
Erm, all right then!
Not much of a ‘difficult decision’ was it Jack and yes, what a massive mistake it turned out to be.
I’m all right Jack!
Lest we forget:
God of our fathers, known of old
Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies
The Captains and the Kings depart
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away
On dune and headland sinks the fire
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.
My beef is with politicians!
I have deep respect for any who fought with us against the Nazis!
My beef is with politicians!
I have deep respect for any who fought with us against the Nazis!
And remember he + his conspirators still won't tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction or admit it was wrong to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. How does he sleep at night-I'll leave you to work that one out. By the way-our soldiers are still being killed and maimed finishing what he + his like started.
And remember he + his conspirators still won't tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction or admit it was wrong to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. How does he sleep at night-I'll leave you to work that one out. By the way-our soldiers are still being killed and maimed finishing what he + his like started.
The fiscal effects of immigration to the UK
Christian Dustmann, Tommaso Frattini, 13 November 2013
http://www.voxeu.org
/article/fiscal-effe
cts-immigration-uk
The fiscal effects of immigration to the UK
Christian Dustmann, Tommaso Frattini, 13 November 2013
http://www.voxeu.org
/article/fiscal-effe
cts-immigration-uk