General Chat

Well, I cant stand any sport except things like darts! The other day, nearly every blooming channel had either football, rugby, racing etc so I had to switch off.Was really annoying
:-P :-P

More football Caroline :-D :-D :-D.A bit more talk especially about our beloved team :-D :-D :-D

I'm with Brian W on that too.

Ah but LaGooner would you want more football or more talking about football??

I'm not with Brian W ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

Brian W I am with you on that. :-)

It would not surprise me if the Beeb lopped the trinity, one by one, as contracts came up for renewal - it could make itself a huge saving which may be necessary if TV licences were abolished and the chiefs wanted to retain their own high salaries.

One bonus of the affair, from my point of view, is that it has slashed the amount of football on TV.

There ARE other sports.

Don't forget that the media cut out some speech and put in what they want so it isn't always accurate.

Lineker statement today was "....it simply doesn't compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war...."
How many people on the little boats are actually in that position? Does he not get the situation?

I agree, Names. That TV licence money is better in my purse rather than Lineker’s back pocket,

I second that, Belle.

I think any who enter this country by small boat or in the back of a lorry are 'illegal' regardless of where they have come from! Those that are apprehended are, I feel, just the tip of the iceberg. I'd hate to think what the true numbers are that have made it to our shores and just dispersed. Those have no means of legitimate employment as they do not have any documentation and therefore will not pay taxes.

I have no problem with those who have gone through the legal process and are allowed to stay

I liked the idea that there should be a refund of the licence money (not) because there was no MOD.
What about all those days when there is sport on every channel can’t the non sport lovers have a massive refund.

Oh dear. GL will be back.

Bang goes the Beeb’s income from the TV licence I hope.

Agree, Joy-Louise. Albanians have no med to come here, Others do.
What really annoys me, thought is the way all those trying to get here are labelled 'illegal immigrants', or 'invaders' by those who should know better!

I am afraid that I can’t see many (or indeed any) young male illegal-entry Albanians helping our economy.

Would they register for a NI number and pay income tax directly?

I do know from experience that if someone falls desperately ill, needing hospital care, that care will be given free of charge regardless of whether he is a British citizen or not. I have seen this happen to a non-citizen - without anyone or any other country being invoiced. When it was queried, the response was that first treatment is free. Could it be that the cost of filling out forms and the manpower needed to effect payment from another nation would cost more than the treatment given, with or without any reciprocal agreement in place? I do not know as I have never worked out the cost of short or lengthy treatment compared to the cost of raising an invoice to be sent overseas.

These young guys would only shell out if it was necessary to do so - for example, by buying food, thereby paying an indirect tax, buying petrol (indirect tax), buying a car (would they register it if they had no British driving licence or equivalent and, very likely, no insurance). I am aware that some may revert to stealing food, clothing etc but they would risk certain deportation if caught - which would then incur housing, feeding and policing costs for the time that deportation takes.

They may sleep multi to a room, taking a room - (no matter how rough it is, it is a roof over the head) - from our own citizens who may be desperate for accommodation.

Undoubtedly, they would become part of the black economy, keeping their heads low. Some may do the work that others refuse, but inevitably that will mean cash in hand, thereby involving no income tax and no employee contributions of any sort by the employer. Illegal activity by illegals ‘on the doors’ at clubs and pubs is unlikely to involve income tax either. One may ask what are their employers thinking of but they are not actually employed, they are just there - armed in some cases, I have been told.

We need to vet applications from refugees and immigrants - and, like the Australians - give swift passage to those whose occupations are needed here, eg doctors and nurses. Safe passage ought also to be given to those escaping tyranny in fear of their lives. Judging by the number of tents we see in France, many are patiently awaiting their turn so I am pleased that our government has begun to repatriate those small-boat, queue-jumping illegals even though many will still breach our porous border successfully. It is a step in the right direction as far as I am concerned.

Albanians have no reason to come here - THEY are 'illegal' immigrants, or to be more precise, economic migrants - here to make more money than they can in their own money. Similar to the reasons the parents of Sunak, Braverman, .Patel, Kwarteng Zahawi and quite a few others came here.

It appears Sunak has made an 'agreement' with the Albanian Government, and the number of Albanians coming over here has reduced.

This is an interesting article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-63473022

As for refugees, this makes it more understandable:
https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/about/facts-about-refugees/

Whatever their reason for coming it's only fair that it be done the right way. There are procedures for a reason and to jump the queue is not acceptable. Otherwise you might as well ditch passport control at airports etc and just let everyone come and go as they please.
Florence agree with you 100%.

Well said Florence I agree 100% with everything you have said

Well many that are living in France(Calais) are in tents, sleeping rough but if they land on our shores, they will be given a roof over their heads and food to eat! We also have a NHS which is free here.

With waiting lists for housing, drs appointments and dental too, just where are we expected to house these immigrants?

Its hardly fair when there are people of this country sleeping rough or in temp accommodation. These centres where they wait to be processed have to be funded. These people need clothes, toiletries & food and they cant work until their applications have been processed and then what? Where will they go?

They wont have anything, no money etc just the clothes they wore when they travelled in a small boat.

Yes maybe some will be educated and become drs or nurses etc but where will they live? We do not have any spare council houses here and as quick as they build new ones, the people on a waiting list get given them.

Our lifeboat & coastguards are busy enough saving lives already so loads of boats coming across the channel will drain already stretched resources.

Yes why if they have travelled from say Albania do they not stop in the 1st safe country they come to? The UK is surely the last because after all we are an island.

I am not uncompassionate for people in genuine need and would help anyone if i could but the endless stream of illegal immigrants arriving on our shores in boats has to be stopped. The UK streets are not paved with gold!