UK, Ireland /
Anti-Polish sentiment of England [253]
As a British Pole who has lived the majority of my life in the UK and who has strong blood links with British people, I think there are rights and wrongs on both sides.
I can understand why a British person may feel angry about a Polish person getting a council flat or benefits or any kind of help from the state, when the British person has to put up with the British government making cuts in the NHS etc. Although you may think otheerwise listening to Tony Blair, the British government is constantly making cuts in education and the NHS. Doctors are put under pressure to spend as little as possible withhin their NHS practices, health visitors who retire or leave are not ebing replaced, and if you child needs medical treatment, the hospital staff are put under pressure not to admit you unless aboslutely necessary and to make your stay as short as possible.. All with the aim of saving money.
At the same time immigrants and asylum seekers are given financial help, council homes, benefits etc.
As a British Pole I have to say charity begins at home.
this is 100% true. other immigrant like asians, arabs or russian invest in our country but poles invest in their own country only.
In response to UK's quote (above)
Not true. You are generalising. Perhaps this is true of the Poles who have only been here 1, 2, 3 years but the Poles who have lived here for a longer period invest in the UK.
I am such a Pole. I own property in the UK, I regularly donate to British charities (animal charities are the closest to my heart) but I have also donated to Dogs for the Blind, Cancer Research, Children's charities etc.
I spend all my money in the Uk (except when I go on holiday) thereby boosting the British economy.
My car is a Ford and I don't and never have claimed benefits in tbe UK.
I forgot to add:
my dad has for many years worked for a Polish firm based in the UK. This firm employs British people as well as Polish (the sales manager, accountant, most of the sales staff warehouse staff) were British, not to mention the cleaner, secretaries, reception staff etc etc. So it has created jobs for at least 25 British people. British firms were both buyers and suppliers so it has boosted the UK economy.
I suspect that if you had heard this company mentioned you would never realise it was a wholly Polish owned company, unless you had inside information.
There are many Poles in the UK, some like me have been here for a long time.
So next time you start generalising about Poles not contributing to the British economy, take a deep breath and do your research first.
