Forum Topic

British jobs for the British

And so it came to pass, Gordon Brown said "British jobs for British workers. Well that didn't last long did it. We now have a situation where any European company can be awarded a contract in the UK, bring in cheap labour from Portugal and Italy, house them in cheap accommodation, and bizarrely refuse to employ UK citizens. I wonder if the CRE (Commission for Racial Equality) will be making representations to the government, on this blatant racial discrimination.........Nah! we are in Europe ain't we!Meanwhile, our people are told by Mandy, to get on our bikes and apply for jobs on the continent. I expect many would, if they managed to get the massive relocation expenses, him and the Kinnock's have managed to squeeze out of the system, at our expense of course.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6450d42 Comments

Well said Andrew!

Jean F Fernandez ● 6450d

"We now have a situation where any European company can be awarded a contract in the UK, bring in cheap labour from Portugal and Italy, house them in cheap accommodation, and bizarrely refuse to employ UK citizens."That's nothing new. It's part of the single market, which many British companies have benefited from for many years. The issue to follow through is why the British bidders for this contract were not competitive. Could it be that their labour costs were excessive, thanks to the attitudes of workers who are so well-paid that they are ready to down tools for an unlawful strike in defence of their uncompetitive jobs?

Richard Jennings ● 6450d

Or it could be Richard that British workers have far higher costs than imported labour in terms of mortgage payments,feeding their kids and having to buy petrol at £4.50 per gallon.I don't know if you work or not but how would you feel if someone took your job after years of service?Maybe if a few lawyers,solicitors or high-ups in industry had their jobs taken by cheap labour(that's all it is,it is not more skilled or better)we would not have this situation because they would not allow it.'British jobs for British people'..another ewmpty sound bite.It is more a case of 'British benefits paid by British people for everyone else from everywhere)

Keith Iddon ● 6450d

I wouldn't object to UKBA and associated agencies being contracted out to the Germans.Though it would be expensive if they were paid by results.

Alan Brainsby ● 6450d

David Archer ● 6450d

I don't recall 1 million+Brits going to Germany in the 80's to look for work.More like 30 or 40,000 and even then they had pre-arranged jobs to go to.These strikes come after 10 years of foreigners taking jobs here,jobs that could be done by Brits. In Australia if there is a job that can be done by an Australian you cannot expect to move there and do that job.I don't see what's so wrong with that.In the last ten years 3 million jobs have been created and just 10% have gone to Brits.Ask Frank Field,he knows.

Keith Iddon ● 6450d

Alan,You wouldn't want to pay a German's generous pension,paternity or redundancy and social security benefites either because they are far higher than ours.

Keith Iddon ● 6450d

"The issue to follow through is why the British bidders for this contract were not competitive. Could it be that their labour costs were excessive, thanks to the attitudes of workers who are so well-paid that they are ready to down tools for an unlawful strike in defence of their uncompetitive jobs?"Charming character you are, the fact is, that we don't pay peanuts to our skilled men, many of whom face the risk of losing their homes as a result of this discrimination"Yes we are part of the single market and British companies have benefited, but since when did it mean that if you were awarded a contract here, you could bring along your own work force, and as a consequence bring down wages and conditions for the host work force. The Portuguese have a very low standard of living at home, and I await their reaction when they have to adapt to the UK economy, and have to survive on the very low wages they are obviously receiving, why else would they be housed in a floating hotel? I can understand the disgust of the strikers, and hope that the gutless politicians will listen to their concerns, but I won't hold my breath though! I take it Richard that you are in employment and receiving a salary that enables you to have a mortgage, and look after a family....do you?

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6450d

Government could solve this here......instead of paying thousands to banks, they could invest thousands in building homes, hospitals, schools., roads etc and GUARANTEE jobs to people for say 5-10 years. Then people would feel secure and spend money and the economy could get itself back on its feet and we would have what we dearly need here. Or does that sound too 'Socialist' to our Labour government. Underlining all this is fear of being unemployed and that's what needs to be tackled.

Penny Crocker ● 6449d

Keith, the benefits of a job well done by an eager, efficient workforce would more than outweigh the cost."Papiere, bitte!"

Alan Brainsby ● 6449d

Alan,what makes you think they are any more eager or efficient than British lads.I see nothing to suggest that.Evidence please.Granted,they are cheaper for obvious reasons.If you pay peanuts,you get monkeys?

Keith Iddon ● 6449d

Rubbish.

Keith Iddon ● 6449d

Keith the supporters of thi

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6449d

KeithTo start again, the supporters of this jobs for all, and excluding the Brits fiasco is by those who obviously think that it couldn't possibly happen to them........sad really  when they are happy to sell their own folk up the swanee, while they lose their homes in the process!

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6449d

It won`t be solved by this government judging from yesterday morning`s radio interview by John Humphrey`s in which Lord Mandelson was slippery, constantly made for open water, some would say swamp, and was finally speared on "British jobs for British workers" when Humphreys suggested it was coined to stop desertion to the BNP.

Robert Darke ● 6448d

"It won`t be solved by this government judging from yesterday morning`s radio interview by John Humphrey`s in which Lord Mandelson was slippery, constantly made for open water"I'm afraid that there is no politician, perhaps with the exception of Frank Field MP, who have the will or the balls to stand up for the Brits, we abide by every EU directive to the letter, that comes out of Brussels, just look at the way our fishing fleets have been decimated. The French, will only abide by anything that suits them.Remember how they (the French) blockaded all the ports to keep our exports out, while the police leant against the lorries, anwilling/unable to move them They even refused to pay the fine imposed on them for refusing to take our Beef. When will those in favour of the EU wake up, and see that is a gravy train for MP,s and the inefficient French farmers IT'S COSTING US BILLIONS!!!I'm waiting to see the reaction when one of our companies do the same to the French for example, by bringing their own staff.......WW3 perhaps?...

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6448d

I am home after four days in Hammersmith Hospital. I did my own ethnicity/nationality survey on workers there, The largest group is Philippinos, followed bf English, British, Irish, Polish, Portuguese, Antiguan, Jamaica, Trinidadian, Sierra Leonian, Ghanaian, Nigerian, Ethiopian, Somalian, Ugandan, Zimbabwean, Australian, India, Sri lankan,  and Greek.Treatment very good. Food acceptable.

Graham Weeks ● 6448d

Had you not noticed that before? Our nurses have been demoralised, under paid and under valued by successive governments, so it is hardly surprising that we have accepted the people from the countries you have mentioned. They earn money that they can only dream of in their own countries, notwithstanding the training which is second to none. Are you suggesting by writing this, that they get nothing in return. None or not many from western Europe is there, they have sussed out the con already. They, like the English are fed up with being paid peanuts, and expected to be social workers and dinner ladies as well as being a nurse! I await to see if any take up nursing our service people in Iraq and Afghanistan, then I may not be so cynical.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6448d

'Had you not noticed that before?'I had never been a Hammersnith inpatient before and rarerly an outpatient there so I could note note the diversity of ethnicity before. I would contrast Hammersmith with Ealing. Ealing is South Asia, both staff and patients. Hammersmith is the world. 'Our nurses have been demoralised, under paid and under valued by successive governments, so it is hardly surprising that we have accepted the people from the countries you have mentioned.'I work with nurses in the community every day. Their mix too is nothing like Hammersmith.  Who is underpaid depends on with whom the comparisons are made. All of us in allied medical professions will complain we are underpaid compared with the medics. 'They earn money that they can only dream of in their own countries, notwithstanding the training which is second to none. Are you suggesting by writing this, that they get nothing in return. None or not many from western Europe is there, they have sussed out the con already. 'I have many times stated here the fact that throughout history most migrants have been economic. Get used to it. The English have never warmly embraced immigrants. I refer you back to the Hugenots who we were supposed to welcome as persecuted fellow Protestants but in fact the English complained then as now of jobs lost to foreigners. Then as now there are swings and roundabouts with foreign immigration and jobs Personally I would get us out of the EU as the first step on controlling immigration. Secondly all other immigration would be strictly controlled with particular restrictions on Muslim immigrants. Hindus, Christians, Jews and Sikhs have come here and not blown us up. On that basis Irish citizens too would their special place and their votes here.BTW my survey was not nurses but everyone, cleaners to consultants.

Graham Weeks ● 6447d

I don't know whether this adds anything to the pot or not really but... in the middle 70s early 80s I worked int he legal department of Wimpey (the builders)at that time Wimpey had contracts all around the world to build anything from hotels to desalination plants.  I can't remember all their sites but I do remember many were in the middle east although not exclusively.  In any event, Wimpey supplied the labour most of (if not all) were brought out to their sites from the UK.  They were housed by the company and paid more than if they worked in the UK which seemes to me to be a  bit like what is causing all the trouble at the moment.  My question therefore is, is it ok for British companies to employ their own labour and take them round the world when they secure foreign contracts (possibly to the detriment of whichever country's workforce)but not ok when it happens the other way round?

Bernie Paul ● 6447d

Like I keep on saying, Most migration is economic. The British founded an empire because it paid. Now the colonial chickens have come home to roost.

Graham Weeks ● 6447d

And they are not all from the ex-colonies...

Alan Brainsby ● 6447d

Re  My question therefore is, is it ok for British companies to employ their own labour and take them round the world when they secure foreign contracts (possibly to the detriment            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      I would imagine the operative word there is " possibly " ie  unlikely. Whatever Wimpey were doing in those countries, no doubt it was highly technical with disastrous consequences if anything went wrong and I doubt there were many if at all such persons capable of the high standards to be found locally. And language written as well as spoken would have been problematical. I doubt if labourers were taken from the UK ? The problems here in the UK at the present time is as much a result of the " economic depression " as anything else and the fear of loss of earnings and all that follows.

Tony Price ● 6447d

Re colonial chickens have come home to roost.          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    and laying many eggs, to boot. At some stage the indigs will wake up and wonder why the country and it's ways etc have been lost. Out-bred and too much immigration. On another thread a poster remarked on corruption now part of Ealing's life. Wonder why that should be?.

Tony Price ● 6447d

Re  colonial chickens coming home to roost          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    The new figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that entirely non-white schools can be found in 10 education authority areas: Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale in West Yorkshire; Lancashire, Oldham and Blackburn; the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Ealing and Hillingdon; and Birmingham. Groups which are counted as "white" include white British, Irish, traveller, gipsy/Roma or "any other white".         xxxxxxxxxxxxx        and note what now constitutes " white " ie  " any other white " includes most middle-eastern peoples ( eg Iraqis )plus Turkish, Afghan, Cypriot etc etc, so real British ie Scots, Welsh Irish and English are MUCH in the minority, hence this Govt. doing all it can to disguise the true picture.

Tony Price ● 6447d

Wherever they come from nearly all are economic migrant. If they are an asset let us have them. If they are an economic drain, keep them out

Graham Weeks ● 6447d

Re  If they are an asset let us have them. If they are an economic drain, keep them out        xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      that I feel is an over simplification. An asset one minute  may well become a drain later on. In for the period they are an asset, then out, and even then, only if an indigenous person is not available and suitable. Even of illegal immigrants who have been refused asylum, only 10% are ever likely to be removed, so their 90% plus the left hangers on of the once legal ones add up to the numbers causing problems in all areas, crime, housing, schooling, health etc etc. Over-immigration is the biggest threat facing the country and will get more and more so as time goes on. And there is precious little hope of integration, even of those who have been so warmly given British priviledges, eg the case of Lord Ahmed, who had a most serious accident  txting while driving and last week demonstrated his version of Britishness when he threatened to get 10,000 fellow Muslims to surround the House of Lords so as to prevent a visit by the Dutch MP Geert Wilders.

Tony Price ● 6447d

This may enlighten you as to why we now have to recruit from abroad. Instead of rectifying the nurses complaints, which by all accounts were many and serious enough to force them out, even though it was seen by them as a vocation, they let thousands of fully trained nurses go to the private sector, where they were respected, and many more either left altogether,or  emigrated to the USA or Australia,where their British training was sought after!A review by the Nuffield Trust (1998) found that between 29% and 48% of UK nurses are suffering symptoms of psychological disturbance ranging from depression to suicide. Between 1991 and 1995, emotional exhaustion doubled. The main causes cited were overwork, bullying, staff shortages, unsupportive managers and insufficient time to give patients emotional support. It was noted that where staff were allowed to express their views and management worked with nurses to solve problems jointly, stress levels were lower.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6447d

Extract from a "History of the Huguenots"Since the Huguenots of France were in large part artisans, craftsmen, and professional people, they were usually well-received in the countries to which they fled for refuge when religious discrimination or overt persecution caused them to leave France."This seems at odds with the version you quoted see below;"I refer you back to the Hugenots who we were supposed to welcome as persecuted fellow Protestants but in fact the English complained then as now of jobs lost to foreigners. Then as now there are swings and roundabouts with foreign immigration and jobs"!

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6447d

Huguenot Heritage By Robin D. Gwynn tells of the less than welcoming English .Advanced google on huguenot, Enland,welcome finds it.

Graham Weeks ● 6447d

They may also be less than happy as NHS employees when they are asked to care for private patients but no remunerated for this. It happens.

Graham Weeks ● 6447d

'And there is precious little hope of integration, even of those who have been so warmly given British priviledges, eg the case of Lord Ahmed, who had a most serious accident  txting while driving and last week demonstrated his version of Britishness when he threatened to get 10,000 fellow Muslims to surround the House of Lords so as to prevent a visit by the Dutch MP Geert Wilders.'Perhaps I should add to my ban on Muslim immigration some incentives to get Muslims to those Islamic regimes they know and love. National Service for Muslim youths? Of course we need to rescind all that Human Rights Legislation and other EUrotrash laws.

Graham Weeks ● 6446d

So nobody really knows then. But the English, as now just don't like them, and we always get lumbered with their problems, especially when they are attacked and invaded by their German friends. We then have to send the flower of our youth as canon fodder to help them out, not once but twice in twenty years. They showed their gratitude to us after the war, by De-Gaulle the French General (who we also gave shelter to), refusing to allow us into the Common market.They have never forgot, and as some still say, that we abandoned them at Dunkirk, by evacuating our own troops off the beach, along with 50,000 French soldiers, but they never seem to mention, that our men fought a rear guard action to hold back the Germans while the evacuation tookplace. Yes they certainly do love us don't they, or at least they should do.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6446d

AMJA - you hold and express such bitterness. Ask yourself - where is the love? You express such hurt and such dislike. Such fear and such lack of empathy. You are angry and portray a sense of injustice. Not moral injustice or even a reflection of wider social injustice. No, your writings are a reflection of personal pain.I read your rants and I am saddened. At times your posts are poetic: "flower of our youth". How can it be that this understanding of the beauty of language is so often distorted into the language of fear and distrust and dislike?My reactive nature says "eff off you bigotted old eff". But that's missing the point - isn't it? That's establishing barriers where perhaps common ground exits.Here's my point. Let us tone down. Let us not sully big issues with small language. Let's understand and balance.This is not to say - tolerate the intolerant. No. Let us point out wrong. But do it politely. Please.

Alan Clark ● 6445d

Alan,Well said.

George Knox ● 6445d

AMJA - you hold and express such bitterness. Ask yourself - where is the love? You express such hurt and such dislike. Such fear and such lack of empathy. Absolutely spot on. Yes I am bitter when I see the way our people are being cast aside, for example in the housing market, you may well know a perfect example that has been discussed on here. No injustice for the people who have slogged their guts out all their lives, and are denied housing....bitter....angry.....disgusted?......Yes I am! Can I presume that you are adequately housed, do you have empathy for those with families stuck in bed and breakfast "hotels" (I'm being polite)with little or no prospect of being housed, some of whom have been evicted when losing their jobs.Our service people being killed in Afghanistan and issued with the wrong or inferior equipment. And when they lose limbs and need rehabilitation, our own lovely people object to the building to house them and their families, because it would lower the value of their homes....nice people..or the soldiers with missing limbs, using a public swimming pool, confronted by an hysterical woman claiming that it was disgraceful, as it was frightening her children. You ask me "where is the love", may I suggest that you ask the same question of these morons. I read your rants and I am saddened.SUGGESTIONWhen you see my name starting a thread, or contributing to one........IGNORE IT, you will then still be an all forgiving all loving happy bunny. I/we have been kept quiet for far too long, I know it maybe too late to change the way this country has been, and is still being taken for a ride.......you obviously, being a gentle compassionate liberal dont care or mind.......I do, sorry!I will finally ask you what you think of the way we allow murderers, rapists, paedophiles, forgers,people traffickers etc to gain entry to here, putting us all at risk, and we let them stay here if they utter.......not ABRACADABRA, yes that over used exploited word ASYLUM. Rant? You aint heard nutting yet!

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6445d

Alan,Well said.Oh no! Not another bloody tree hugging sandal wearing luvvie. You all sound like parrots...still it take all sorts I suppose!

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6445d

"Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox were part of the original Crazy Gang." Looking at some of his (Knox) postings........he lives on evidently!.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6445d

Re  I know it maybe too late to change the way this country has been, and is still being taken for a ride.......you obviously, being a gentle compassionate liberal dont care or mind.......I do, sorry!          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I had a leaflet put through my l/box today inviting the public to an Islamic exhibition to discover what Islam is all about, eg Human Rights and Dignity, Inter -faith Harmony and Respect and inter alia Jesus Christ ( pbuh ), note NO mention of Mohammed and today also I received an e mail of which the following extracts were part, some difference I feel from what the Exhibition will attempt to portray.         "  It appears that a member of the House of Lords had invited the Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, to a private meeting in the Palace of Westminster. She had intended to invite her colleagues in the Lords to a private viewing of his ‘documentary’ Fitna, followed by discussion and debate in true parliamentary fashion. This is, after all, a liberal democracy, and their lordships enjoy the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of association, not to mention certain parliamentary privileges for the protection of their function in the legislature.But no sooner had the unsuspecting baroness sent out her invitations, Lord Ahmed raised hell. It is reported that he ‘threatened to mobilise 10,000 Muslims to prevent Mr Wilders from entering the House and threatened to take the colleague who was organising the event to court’.               xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx       "On the first day of our trip, local news reported that  another synagogue was firebombed, a 4th that week, and a man had just been  stabbed for wearing a Star of David by the notorious “disenfranchised  youths” as the media calls them. Two days prior, there was a “peace” rally  which resulted in the burning of dozens of cars, again by those pesky  “youths” who for some reason yell “Allah Akbar” while rioting. We did an  in studio interview on French radio where I bluntly explained to them that  their problems were brought on by their leftist politicians who feel the  need to push socialist and other leftist policies which have enabled all  this to occur."   " They are Islamic neighborhoods where police  absolutely refuse to enter, and where if you are not a Muslim and you are caught driving through it you will have bricks thrown at your car and may  not make it out alive. One of the conservative activists we met up with by  the name of David described a time when there was a new Chief of Police  who decided he wanted to crack down on the no-go zones and send his police in, against the wishes of many other authorities. When the police entered  one of the large 15 story commie-block style apartment buildings, someone  pushed a refrigerator off the roof onto one of the squad cars. They don't  go in there any more. These Islamic ghettos were brought on and paid for  by social welfare programs, and the immigrants were welcomed with open  arms in the name of "Youths" burning an Israeli flag. Photo by  Jesse Petrilladiversity and multiculturalism. Yet unlike the immigrants of the past, assimilation has been lacking to say the least. An unnamed source gave us an example of the local police climate; although the police want to fight, they are greatly restricted. He explained that during a recent protest, someone began shooting at the police with a handgun, the officer in charge gave the order to his men not  to return fire, and was given an award by the government for his restraint. That is the climate of liberalism."           " The sheer  numbers were astounding, at a conservative estimate there were 15,000  screaming jihadis waving Hezbollah and Hamas flags. The crowd grew and grew, and when they hit the opera plaza the police blocked them from continuing to the Israeli Consulate. The infuriated crowd began to torch  Israeli and American flags, and as the tensions grew and we saw police  begin to lock and load their tear gas, we knew it was time to leave. That  evening we found out that a McDonalds was attacked that we had ate at only  a half hour before the rally, and all the windows broken. However, from  press reports you would never know any of this occurred. Our Paris contact  Nidra Poller told us a few days later that there was barely a peep in the  French news about it, if anything at all. The only information we could  find on the event was a flat out lie in an AP news wire saying that the crowds were estimated at 2,600. This manipulation of the facts, and the control of the mainstream media is incredible, but is exactly what the liberals are attempting to do, and have largely succeeded in bringing to the media in the United States."         "What I can explain in words about the European  situation sounds terrible, but be assured that whatever you believe to be  the current state of European affairs, it is 100 times as bad as you  think. “100 times as bad”, those were the words told to us by Dutch MP  Geert Wilders. This hero of a man was just one of the leaders we met with  on our journey. Mr. Wilders was just brought up on charges the day after we met with him on grounds of inciting hate speech for his producing of the factual film called Fitna, which discussed the ideologies behind our Islamic extremist enemies. This attack on free speech is all too common in  this region. Yet there is an extreme double standard if one is talking  about speech against Jews, Christians, or against conservative ideals. For  Europe, it seems perfectly acceptable to tolerate the intolerant."

Tony Price ● 6445d

And so Fitna has been cancelled: it shall not now be screened in the House of Lords on 29th January. The Pakistani Press is jubilant, and Lord Ahmed is praising Allah for delivering ‘a victory for the Muslim community’.So if a Pakistani Lord threatens violence, we have to bow to his wishes, if we were to do the same,the riot police would be sent in... seems fair.....Well done luvvies, by your actions and support for this moron and his ilk, this is what you get by way of thanks, you all have seemed to have gone quiet!!!!!!!!!

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6444d

I await their criticism of my letter to Ifty.

Graham Weeks ● 6444d

Re  And so Fitna has been cancelled: it shall not now be screened in the House of Lords on 29th January          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        as it  transpires, Andrew, a new date has been set for the screening but that does not in any way excuse what this hitherto over " blown " over praised over cossetted product of PC luvviness did to thwart the democratic processes of this country, into which I feel he does not fit, let alone be made a LORD in the UPPER Chamber of the GOVERNING body of this country. I hope against hope the PC luvvies will take heed, but I doubt it. And to give more examples of how the PC luvvies protect THEIR protege's, apparently 2 years on after the accident in which he was involved while TXTing during driving on the motorway in which a person in the other car was killed, this Lordship has still not been brought to Court, which hearings have been postponed twice, including the latest. Why is that, one rule for us, one for others?, PC luvvies protecting their fabrication or embarrassed re the potential outcome?. And what benefit is their creation to the people of this country.

Tony Price ● 6444d