Comments on: Shooting yourself in the foot http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/ Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:10:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Letters From A Tory http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1255 Letters From A Tory Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:28:43 +0000 http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1255 A very astute point. Individuals who come to the UK, work hard, pay their taxes and then either choose to stay or leave is completely fine with me. However, migrants who get immediate access to all our public services, benefits and god knows what else is totally unacceptable. People should have to show that they are able to contribute to our economy BEFORE they get access to taxpayers' money.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1255','Letters From A Tory'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('1255','Letters From A Tory','A very astute point. Individuals who come to the UK, work hard, pay their taxes and then either choose to stay or leave is completely fine with me. However, migrants who get immediate access to all our public services, benefits and god knows what else is totally unacceptable. People should have to show that they are able to contribute to our economy BEFORE they get access to taxpayers\' money.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> A very astute point. Individuals who come to the UK, work hard, pay their taxes and then either choose to stay or leave is completely fine with me. However, migrants who get immediate access to all our public services, benefits and god knows what else is totally unacceptable. People should have to show that they are able to contribute to our economy BEFORE they get access to taxpayers’ money.
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]]> By: American Migrant http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1254 American Migrant Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:18:30 +0000 http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1254 Don't be too quick to paint with that broad brush, as many of my fellow citizens do here in the US. Not all immigrants are low-paid workers, and not all come to your shore seeking permanent residency. I've been a guest worker in the UK on three separate occasions since 1994. Each time I've paid UK taxes and received no benefits for it. I've never used the NHS and was prohibited from accessing public funds of any kind. I have no children, so there was no burden on the educational system. One could argue, I suppose, that I received benefit from my council rates (rubbish collection, police, fire), but overall I doubt the benefit I received was in proportion to my cost in taxes. In my case, HMG definitely got the better end of the bargain.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1254','American Migrant'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('1254','American Migrant','Don\'t be too quick to paint with that broad brush, as many of my fellow citizens do here in the US. Not all immigrants are low-paid workers, and not all come to your shore seeking permanent residency. I\'ve been a guest worker in the UK on three separate occasions since 1994. Each time I\'ve paid UK taxes and received no benefits for it. I\'ve never used the NHS and was prohibited from accessing public funds of any kind. I have no children, so there was no burden on the educational system. One could argue, I suppose, that I received benefit from my council rates (rubbish collection, police, fire), but overall I doubt the benefit I received was in proportion to my cost in taxes. In my case, HMG definitely got the better end of the bargain.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Don’t be too quick to paint with that broad brush, as many of my fellow citizens do here in the US. Not all immigrants are low-paid workers, and not all come to your shore seeking permanent residency. I’ve been a guest worker in the UK on three separate occasions since 1994. Each time I’ve paid UK taxes and received no benefits for it. I’ve never used the NHS and was prohibited from accessing public funds of any kind. I have no children, so there was no burden on the educational system. One could argue, I suppose, that I received benefit from my council rates (rubbish collection, police, fire), but overall I doubt the benefit I received was in proportion to my cost in taxes. In my case, HMG definitely got the better end of the bargain.
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]]> By: Letters From A Tory http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1253 Letters From A Tory Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:51:11 +0000 http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1253 Cameron is certainly getting serious, but he's still only talking about non-EU migrants, as there is nothing he can do to stop immigration from inside the EU thanks to our EU membership. Time to turn our membership into a trade-only agreement where the political decisions are left to us but we stay inside the European free-trade area. Switzerland and Norway have got the right idea in my opinion, as does the 'Global Vision' think-tank.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1253','Letters From A Tory'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('1253','Letters From A Tory','Cameron is certainly getting serious, but he\'s still only talking about non-EU migrants, as there is nothing he can do to stop immigration from inside the EU thanks to our EU membership. Time to turn our membership into a trade-only agreement where the political decisions are left to us but we stay inside the European free-trade area.\n\nSwitzerland and Norway have got the right idea in my opinion, as does the \'Global Vision\' think-tank.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Cameron is certainly getting serious, but he’s still only talking about non-EU migrants, as there is nothing he can do to stop immigration from inside the EU thanks to our EU membership. Time to turn our membership into a trade-only agreement where the political decisions are left to us but we stay inside the European free-trade area.

Switzerland and Norway have got the right idea in my opinion, as does the ‘Global Vision’ think-tank.

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]]> By: redandwhitestripes http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1252 redandwhitestripes Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:43:04 +0000 http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/shooting-yourself-in-the-foot/#comment-1252 Agreed. Cameron has promised to get serious, firm and fair on this issue. If he wins the election - and I honestly believe he will - he better keep the promise or it will be a long time before anyone trusts the Tories again.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1252','redandwhitestripes'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('1252','redandwhitestripes','Agreed. Cameron has promised to get serious, firm and fair on this issue. If he wins the election - and I honestly believe he will - he better keep the promise or it will be a long time before anyone trusts the Tories again.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Agreed. Cameron has promised to get serious, firm and fair on this issue. If he wins the election – and I honestly believe he will – he better keep the promise or it will be a long time before anyone trusts the Tories again.
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