asylum seekers - why do they all want to go to UK???

[dippersgirl]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33817958

Written by Diana Darke

It was her North Cyprus travel book we used on our first visit here.

[Groucho]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33817958

Written by Diana Darke

It was her North Cyprus travel book we used on our first visit here.

They don't it's only the gutter press obsessed with Johnny Foreigner who paints the picture of the UK being their sole target... but then they would be obsessed with anything that appeals to prejudice - because it sells copy.

[cambridge]

No problem then Groucho? It's all made up by the gutter press?

[waddo]

They don't - they just all want to get out of France - lol.

[Keithcaley]

That's a very contentious response, which seems to me, to have deliberately substituted another issue in place of the one that was being put.

The issue was not 'Is there a problem?'

The issue was 'Asylum seekers - why do they all want to go to UK?' - to which the answer is, of course, 'They Don't all want to go to the UK'! - al lot of them want to go to other places.

Nobody has denied that there is a problem - where did you get that from?

n.b. I just saw that waddo beat me to it (again) - darn, but he's a fast typist!

[Groucho]

No problem then Groucho? It's all made up by the gutter press?

Bob, My point was - they don't all want to go to UK - but the impression that they do is given in much of the poorly researched and downright inaccurate reporting of the migrant 'crisis'

Probably because they think we wouldn't give a toss if we thought they were mostly heading elsewhere - which the figures actually suggest they are.... The UK is not getting the lion's share.

I was not suggesting that those that do want to go to the UK are not a concern but the argument is not helped by piss-poor reporting.

[Ragged Robin]

As far as the asylum seekers themselves are concerned I would think it is not where they want to GO, it is what they want to get away from that concerns them most! They would probably be happy to go anywhere they think, or believe or just hope they will be accepted!! I must say I. however, I was surprised at how well Germany treated the man in the story, y that may be that I have been brainwashed what I have read

I think Groucho has a good point. After all surely most of us here get angry and upset tbye way the Cyprus situation has been and still is represented in the British Press , and consequent misunderstandings of the general public and those in various forms of authority.

Why should we believe that the same Media has not put a "spin" on other issues?

[Johnny Lee]

It is not just Asylum seekers, virtually a very country I have ever been to and almost every race of person I have ever met seems to think that the UK is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Even people who can only utter a few words of English seem to know about the welfare state and free health service.

[erol]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015 ... t-uk-facts

[Maisiemoo]

You're right there Johnny Lee. We were talking to a carpet seller in Istanbul who was extolling the virtues if the UK, the benefits and the FREE healthcare. He couldn't see wherever were coming from when we said it's not free we pay for it in our NI and taxes.

[Groucho]

It is not just Asylum seekers, virtually a very country I have ever been to and almost every race of person I have ever met seems to think that the UK is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Even people who can only utter a few words of English seem to know about the welfare state and free health service.

Lee,

You must be going to the wrong countries and speaking to the wrong people...!

Just for balance - Denmark has a much better welfare state (i.e. more generous) and a superior health service.

By far the majority of asylum seekers/immigrants seek refuge somewhere other than the UK - you surely can't argue with the facts - see Erol's link in the post above.

The UK has a physical geographical ability not shared by most of mainland Europe to prevent most of what is happening de facto elsewhere. So a sense of proportion seems to be lacking here - I blame the press including the BBC - they are stoking up the hatred as much as they can muster. I'm not suggesting that the numbers at Calais trying to get through the tunnel are not a problem - I'm just suggesting they are a much smaller numerical problem than the numbers entering other countries across the mainland of Europe.

[johnerebus]

Here's a snippet from Owen Jones of the Guardian and the title ironically is, 'Don't believe the press – Britain is far from a refugee magnet.'

Even among progressive-minded people, there are reservations about those who have fled horrifying circumstances in Syria, Eritrea, Darfur, Afghanistan and other countries terrorised by war or dictatorship. Why don’t they simply seek refuge in countries neighbouring their own? What compels them to travel thousands of miles, across multiple borders, in order to make a new life on British soil? François Hollande’s France is hardly a war-torn dystopia, so why not stay there?

The first point is that the vast majority of refugees don’t come anywhere near western Europe. Indeed, as the UNHCR points out, 86% of all refugees are in developing countries.

[jacob]

For those who believe the Guardian newspaper and the Marxist,ideological muppet. Owen Jones, I would remind you they are both supporters of that other Marxist nutter, Jeremy Corbyn who could very well be the next Labour leader.

Labour is totally responsible for the mass immigration to the UK, can you imagine what Britain would be like if they ever get into government again, the thought horrifies me.

[jacob]

I would also like to say that the 'asylum seekers' currently massing in Calais are MOSTLY from Africa and are not seeking genuine asylum, they are economic migrants who are willing to pay to get to the UK, genuine asylum seekers fleeing persecution etc would accept asylum in the first safe haven entered, they don't, they make their way to Calais to benefit from working in the black market in UK, also for benefits and health care.

[johnerebus]

Hmmn! Dunno if the UNHCR is a supporter of the Marxist nutters you mention jacob which is where Owen Jones got his info. If you read the UNHCR article you'll discover the majority do not head for the UK. But thanks for your reminder about "nutters." I'll refer them all to my nephew who's a mental health nurse manager.

Now what was it Donald Trump said recently about Mexican economic migrants in the US?

Although off topic but connected what I find puzzling is a lion is shot, not good of course, but the UK media carry the "Oh dear." "Ahhh" "Shame." "This is murder" stories for a long time.
People seeking a better life for themselves, women and children among them, are considered scroungers, and as you say, "they make their way to Calais to benefit from working in the black market in UK, also for benefits and health care." Which makes me assume you've spoken to every individual in Calais and found their reasons for wanting to enter the UK. Time consuming research so well done.

The connection between lions and humans is lions need protection while humans - of which there are too many - don't. Best if they die then. That'll sort the overpopulation issue.

[jacob]

Hmmn! Dunno if the UNHCR is a supporter of the Marxist nutters you mention jacob which is where Owen Jones got his info. If you read the UNHCR article you'll discover the majority do not head for the UK. But thanks for your reminder about "nutters." I'll refer them all to my nephew who's a mental health nurse manager.

Now what was it Donald Trump said recently about Mexican economic migrants in the US?

Although off topic but connected what I find puzzling is a lion is shot, not good of course, but the UK media carry the "Oh dear." "Ahhh" "Shame." "This is murder" stories for a long time.
People seeking a better life for themselves, women and children among them, are considered scroungers, and as you say, "they make their way to Calais to benefit from working in the black market in UK, also for benefits and health care." Which makes me assume you've spoken to every individual in Calais and found their reasons for wanting to enter the UK. Time consuming research so well done.

The connection between lions and humans is lions need protection while humans - of which there are too many - don't. Best if they die then. That'll sort the overpopulation issue.

Oh fgs, Owen Jones is a Guardian journalist so of course he gets his info from them. The UNHCR is basically a socialist based organisation, not unbiased.

Why are you taking offence at the word "nutters" it is a word, frequently used, only those who wish to be offended are offended.

As for Cecil the lion, I much prefer animals to people so make of that what you will.

Of course I haven't spoken to every migrant in Calais but I have seen enough interviewed and they all say UK, if you choose not to believe me, answer this, why haven't they asked for help in France? Let's be honest here, they are hardly in any danger there!!!

The 86% that don't come to Western Europe are those that simply don't have the funds and are genuine refugees.

[Angiebaby]

We have also found that most places we have been to in the world people have this idea of Gt. Britain being the free ticket to all things good. Even in Girne Harbour many of the waiters we have spoken to there seem to have this thing about London especially, being the answer to their dreams.I suppose this explains all the scam marriages and other setups just to get a British passport.

[erol]

The UNHCR is basically a socialist based organisation, not unbiased.

And you are unbiased ?

Even in Girne Harbour many of the waiters we have spoken to there seem to have this thing about London especially, being the answer to their dreams.I suppose this explains all the scam marriages and other setups just to get a British passport.

As far as those waiters you have spoken to are Cypriot (and not foreign workers in Cyprus or post 74 'settlers') they can in fact get a RoC EU passport and go and live and work entirely legally in the UK or any other EU country as they wish, without the need for any form of marriage, be it scam or otherwise.

My father was a Cypriot immigrant to the UK. Again he was able to totally legally live and work in the UK even though he was born in Cyprus as a Cypriot because back then the UK OWNED and RULED Cyprus and as such my father was a British (colonial) subject. This was a time when the British as rulers of Cyprus were hanging Cypriots who were fighting to end British rule. My English mother met my Cypriot father in Cyprus as she was working for the NAFFI, basically cooking for the British Troops that were at that time in Cyprus enforcing British rule and ownership of Cyprus. They immigrated to the UK and later wed (not a scam wedding) and arrived in the UK with £5 in their pockets. By sheer hard work and effort they built up a successful business employing many others and at the height of the winter of discontent in the UK were paying on the top rate of their earnings 98 pence in every pound earned in tax and national insurance. My immigrant Cypriot father never once claimed unemployment benefit or housing benefit in the UK (unlike myself that has in the past claimed both at times).

[johnerebus]

Hi jacob, You saying - "As for Cecil the lion, I much prefer animals to people so make of that what you will." made me larf out loud and I have made of it what I will. So I'll say no more. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
I haven't taken offence at the word "nutters." I may not have been clear previously as I was suggesting all of those Marxist "nutters" you referred to go to see my nephew who can sort them out either with medication or political re-education. I Wish You Well

[jacob]

Hi jacob, You saying - "As for Cecil the lion, I much prefer animals to people so make of that what you will." made me larf out loud and I have made of it what I will. So I'll say no more. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
I haven't taken offence at the word "nutters." I may not have been clear previously as I was suggesting all of those Marxist "nutters" you referred to go to see my nephew who can sort them out either with medication or political re-education. I Wish You Well

My apologies, we were crossing wires I'm afraid your nephew would be wasting his time re-educating but VERY strong Meds might do the trick

[desih]

Great posts EROL. Summed things up nicely.

[johnerebus]

You've posted a heart warming and positive story of your parent's success Erol. Your dad could have been the 6th Beatle when they wrote, "Taxman" - '98 for you just 2 for me."

[Lem]

Just heard, first Irish asylum seekers have reached Calais!

[Keithcaley]

Just heard, first Irish asylum seekers have reached Calais!

Which way are they heading?

[Groucho]

Just heard, first Irish asylum seekers have reached Calais!

Which way are they heading?

Park Prewett!