Part of the problem or part of the solution? - # 82

Ageing European societies need immigration to help generate economic capacity to pay taxes that support ageing indigenous populations. But another government report has said that pressures caused by immigration have caused greater child poverty and increased the problems of inequality, thus spoiling Government's efforts to address these issues in Britain. In London and the southeast it's obvious that immigrants are absolutely essential. Go into any cafe, hotel, or call a plumber or an electrician - you'll be served by an bright, pleasant person from abroad: the finance houses operating in the City of London are full of foreign professional workers.........but elsewhere in Britain, the immigrant will probably be poor, and unskilled, and forbidden to work because of "the rules". Frankly he is an unwanted nuisance, rather than a welcome friend. It's not easy to run a country and be fair to everyone.