I have never had much time for Andrew Green - the absurd extrapolations of questionable statistics that his "Migration Watch" group publish periodically serve only to get a few scare story headlines rather than actually contributing to the debate on migration.
Since Mayor Boris Johnson- a figure who increasingly impresses me- mused publicly about the idea of an amnesty for illegal immigrants, it was only a matter of time before Green would publish some swivel-eyed nonsense.
The scare story headline was that "legalising" illegals would cost £4 billion. However even before we start, we find that half of this is somehow attributable to the partners and families of illegals- many of whom are actually already legal British tax payers. So even on Mw's numbers, then the cost falls by half to the still eye-popping £2 billion.
Then you look at the assumptions.
Essentially Migration Watch assume that those who are working would not only not pay tax, but would instead become claimants on the state.
As a former civil servant, Sir Andrew knows more than most about being a cost to the British tax payer. However the vast majority of immigrants to the United Kingdom- illegal and legal alike- would regard it as either pointless or a matter of some shame to claim on the State.
As usual, Migration Watch's numbers are simply meaningless scare tactics to promote a xenophobic and unpleasant agenda.
At a time when the population of the UK is actually falling sharply- with Poles returning home, and the foreign high-rollers in the City of London following them out of the door, we will increasingly struggle to compete as further skill shortages emerge.
In such circumstances, the anti-migration lobby may get what they wish for... and then really wish they hadn't.
Since Mayor Boris Johnson- a figure who increasingly impresses me- mused publicly about the idea of an amnesty for illegal immigrants, it was only a matter of time before Green would publish some swivel-eyed nonsense.
The scare story headline was that "legalising" illegals would cost £4 billion. However even before we start, we find that half of this is somehow attributable to the partners and families of illegals- many of whom are actually already legal British tax payers. So even on Mw's numbers, then the cost falls by half to the still eye-popping £2 billion.
Then you look at the assumptions.
Essentially Migration Watch assume that those who are working would not only not pay tax, but would instead become claimants on the state.
As a former civil servant, Sir Andrew knows more than most about being a cost to the British tax payer. However the vast majority of immigrants to the United Kingdom- illegal and legal alike- would regard it as either pointless or a matter of some shame to claim on the State.
As usual, Migration Watch's numbers are simply meaningless scare tactics to promote a xenophobic and unpleasant agenda.
At a time when the population of the UK is actually falling sharply- with Poles returning home, and the foreign high-rollers in the City of London following them out of the door, we will increasingly struggle to compete as further skill shortages emerge.
In such circumstances, the anti-migration lobby may get what they wish for... and then really wish they hadn't.
Comments
Had there not been such lies in the first place there would be no need for a migration watch and no need for Boris to go to these lengths just to get fair money.
I am glad you are coming round to Boris though. In his writing and attitudes he is closer to me than any other politician.