UK, Ireland / British Government keeps work restrictions for eastern Europeans [19]


Exactly and the UK immigration policy has no substance as there was no upper limit placed on EU migration.

With now less than a year to go before the next General Election, it will be interesting to see how the mainstream parties jostle for position as the one having the most "responsible and in no way racist" policy on immigration.

UK, Ireland / Poles claim UK benefits after working only one year instead of going home [156]


From the above article:

"Ania Heasley, who runs an employment agency and advice service for eastern Europeans in London, said Polish workers were becoming 'very well-versed' in the UK benefits system, adding: 'People are now coming to me for advice on whether they are eligible to claim Jobseekers Allowance, which was unheard of six months ago.'"

I bet they're becoming "very well-versed" !

The system is at fault, however, as it is too easy to exploit, by both foreigners and British people.

However, if people seem content to live a pretty meagre existence on state hand-outs, then let them get on with it. You just never know when you might be the next one in the queue, so I'm reluctant to complain too much.

However, if I was the next person in the queue to sign-on, I think hearing nothing but foreign jibber-jabber being spoken all around me would grate on my nerves. I've been paying NI and tax for almost 20 years, so it would annoy me for people receiving benefits when they have only paid in for around 12 months.

UK, Ireland / British Government keeps work restrictions for eastern Europeans [19]

From the OP's link:

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

"Migration only works if it benefits the British people, and we are determined to make sure that is what happens.

"That is why I am delighted to announce that we are keeping in place restrictions which mean we can continue to count how many people are coming here, and which limit Eastern Europeans' access to benefits."

I thought we were always being spun the line that they had no idea how many people were coming and going and that there were no real figures to say how many EU immigrants were here and any one time.

I wish that they would make up their minds.

I think it is pretty ironic that the powers that be think their rules are "strict" !

UK, Ireland / 13,000 Polish births this year, in the UK [180]

I hope that the reasons for wanting to leave aren't so strong and more reasons to stay ?

UK, Ireland / 13,000 Polish births this year, in the UK [180]

Is it ? Good to hear !

My vision of Poland is of a place that has all but been deserted, with just a few old men sitting all day in cafés reminiscing of the times before everyone moved to England to drive lorries and work in hotels.

UK, Ireland / Tough times for Poles in Ireland [4]

Unfortunately, in life, stuff happens.

Sometimes you have to ride out the bad times and wait for the good ones to return. This business of upping-sticks and moving countries seems a little bit extreme and maybe Marcin Kaminski might find a non-eu country more difficult when it comes to the paperwork ?

Going to Canada in search of a "better life" ? Good luck and all that, but why do some people think everything will be ok and all their problems solved simply by moving to another country ?

UK, Ireland / 13,000 Polish births this year, in the UK [180]

You bumped this thread to say that ?

I'm not sure you're on the right track with your thoughts anyway. The Polish that start families over here (assuming that they don't go back to Poland) will be giving birth to British citizens.

I'm not too sure on how the official side of it works when foreigners give birth in another country, but eventually those children will be citizens of that country. Therefore, all the little Polish/British rug-rats will be British citizens, speak English as a first language, speak Polish (assuming their parents teach them any) with a British accent and Poland will be a place they see on TV.

Stay here long enough and you become one of us eventually ;-)

UK, Ireland / Friends married in Poland but now divorce. Can they divorce in the UK? [12]

Seconded.

UK, Ireland / Friends married in Poland but now divorce. Can they divorce in the UK? [12]

Was that involved before they got married too ?

UK, Ireland / Friends married in Poland but now divorce. Can they divorce in the UK? [12]


Some yes, but it seems all too common these days to chuck in the towel at the first sign of trouble.

If children are involved, then I think that calling it a day after less than 12 months does seem awfully fast.

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]

All jokes aside, I think that an airline from any developed country is going to be as safe as it is possible to be.

Ryanair, Easyjet etc would be grounded pretty fast if there was any real hint that they weren't safe.

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]

I seem to remember Ryanair being in the news for something similar fairly recently.

Bad things can happen in the air and it's how pilots react to them and whether or not everyone walks away that really counts.

UK, Ireland / Friends married in Poland but now divorce. Can they divorce in the UK? [12]


After less than a year ?

The age of commitment is officially dead.

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]


Fair enough, but if the airline pile on lots of extra charges then are you really saving ?


"Fresh" is the fictional budget airline featured in a programme called "Mile High" which was on Sky 1 some years ago.

It's currently (and almost permanently) being repeated on Sky 3 on Sunday nights.

The crew on "Fresh" are the craziest and randiest bunch of people ever to say "doors to manual" and makes very entertaining viewing.

UK, Ireland / More Polish workers leaving the Isles [28]


It's impossible to see how any party can make the much needed changes without a radical agenda. Any new Government would need to take tough, and possibly quite unpopular decisions, and I just don't see that happening.

Tough talk on immigration is too often seen as "playing the race card", and no mainstream party wants to take the risk of it all boiling over into nastiness. Personally I think that they should take the risk, but just be damn careful.

The other problem is that our hands seem to be tied with regards to immigration from within the EU and this is probably something that needs the most attention.

Personally I don't really see much changing.

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]


You mean they were speaking English with a Scottish accent ??!!


I seem to remember Ryanair being featured on the BBC's '"Watchdog" when Ryanair were having a 'free flights' promotion and it seemed that the only card they didn't charge for using was the Visa Electron card - a bank card hardly anyone has (unless you're really unfortunate).

The basic cost of getting a plane load of people from one place to another is going to be very similar, regardless of the airline. If an airline charges next to nothing for the flight, then they have to get the money back somehow.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, you get what you pay for etc.

I would never fliy Ryanair myself, mainly due to the fact that I can't stand the bloke in charge. The only budget airline I would consider fliying is "Fresh" ;-)

UK, Ireland / More Polish workers leaving the Isles [28]

What I think will happen is that those with the real skills that we could probably do with keeping will be the ones to go back. We'll be left with those that have wangled themselves onto a cushy life on the scrounge and will just be a drain on the public purse.

This together with those that maybe somehow forced to stay here, trapped by debts etc makes me think that the longer term effects of this wave of immigration has yet to be realised.

It will be interesting to see how immigration gets tackled by politicians, the closer we get to a general election.

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]

What language was that in ?

UK, Ireland / Free Flights at Ryanair?! (UK / Poland) [39]

How much is it to use the toilet to join the "mile high club" ? ;-)

UK, Ireland / POLISH SUICIDES IN THE UK [21]


It's just my point of view and I'm British and I live here, so I think I'm qualified to have a view.


I agree that is the case, but many don't for various reasons.


I think many are in debt to ordinary High Street banks, that they probably thought wouldn't screw them over.

UK, Ireland / POLISH SUICIDES IN THE UK [21]


Why motive do they have for saying that though ?

UK, Ireland / going to uk to look for a cad job - are there any left? [21]


Fair enough.

Where do you want to live ? Visit that place and stay as long as you can and see if you can see yourself living there. A bit like a fact-finding mission.

Try and line up some interviews at least before you move.

Don't arrive on the fly and hope for the best.

UK, Ireland / going to uk to look for a cad job - are there any left? [21]


My only knowledge of the industry you refer to is that CAD stands for "computer aided design", so I can't comment on specifics, however, I think that it would come down to how strong your CV is that will be what counts.

Any foreigner applying for such a job would have to have excellent English skills, both written and verbal, but that would be true of any job that isn't a McJob or shovelling sand on a building site.

I think they would want to know what your long-term plans were and whether or not you intended to stay in the UK. If you didn't plan to settle here, they might be put off hiring you as they might see it as a waste of their time and money.

UK, Ireland / polish identity card and work in england [15]

I'd be interested to know what plans the Government have to deal with those that don't buy one once they become compulsory.

Will it be a bit like the poll tax where we end up with riots in the streets ? I do hope so ;-)

UK, Ireland / polish identity card and work in england [15]


The bit about ID cards that I always object to is the cost, as mentioned in the above article:

"The initial application fee has been fixed at £30 and that is supposedly a cut-price offer to entice citizens to get one before they become compulsory. How much they will cost from 2012 is anyone's guess."

As it's my choice to have a passport, I don't mind paying for it (although I don't think the cost is related to the actual amount of work involved), but as I can prove who I am quite easily, I'm not prepared to pay for an ID card.

The whole thing is a scam to keep tabs on the law-abiding. It won't do anything to stop terrorists or illegal immigration, they'll just buy a fake ID card.

UK, Ireland / POLISH SUICIDES IN THE UK [21]


Yes, there are many fantastic organisations out there that can help, if people know of there existence and can access them fairly easily. The Samaritans are just one example that could help assuming there isn't too much of a language barrier.

My general point was that however much people see the welfare state in Britian as over-generous and too easy to exploit, the help is purely financial. Beyond that, you're pretty much on your own.


I fear that there are many, many people out there carrying around their various sacks of misery. To have to lug it along familiar streets is bad enough, but to do it so far from home, it must feel ten times as heavy.

UK, Ireland / POLISH SUICIDES IN THE UK [21]


Do you have a link for this ?

It's a bad state of affairs indeed for people to get so low that they see no way out other than suicide.

For all the talk of the benefit system being milked by the Polish and others, it's a great shame that there seemed to be no one there from the "system" to help people in their darkest hour.

It's fine to sign-on the dole and get dagger looks from the British, but don't expect any real help when it all unravels and you want to stick your head in the gas oven.

The way we, the British, "help" people is so ass-about-face at times.

UK, Ireland / Polish female bringing a chinese husband to the UK -advice needed :) [19]


Sorry, but that bit really may me chuckle ;-)

UK, Ireland / Polish female bringing a chinese husband to the UK -advice needed :) [19]


Do you really want to scrape by on JSA ?

You have to have had a job here first and lost it before you can claim anything. Not sure if your previous employment here helps with that though. I guess it would depend how recently you worked here.

As ShelleyS has said, you're not picking a good time to come here to work. Does your husband speak enough English to stand a chance here ?

What do you do in China ?

UK, Ireland / Here comes the Anti-Immigration marches.... [114]


Some have and some haven't, just like any foreigner moving to another country.

It's a massive generalisation to say that they all haven't.