C4 Dispatches - immigrants really good for Britain

[shaunbhoy]

Places like Manchester became rich in the industrial revolution on the backs of Indian cities, the British raised taxes on cotton produced in India which resulted in the whole textile industry collapsing.

Stop bleating on and tell people that give a toss. You have an overdeveloped guilt complex, do something about it.

[sasguru]

It's all a moot point now. Whatever happened in the past, India seems to be waxing, while we wane.

[Bagpuss]

It's all a moot point now. Whatever happened in the past, India seems to be waxing, while we wane.

They are quite hairy

[sasguru]

They are quite hairy

Nice one ...

[mrdonuts]

I think history is quite clear that the British f**ked the place up. Nevermind the Amritsar massacare and the rest. I suppose you figure it was job done, country looted.

Given the history of India, they would have easily kept pace with the world.

Try reading a book you tw*t.

sounds like that would have to be a book from your approved reading list

it is NOT quite clear that it was fcuked up at all, history is now showing that they have done well out of it -- i will re-emphasise the point , that if it weren't for the timely introduction of the english language they would now be struggling

[Churchill]

Now now CD, oh sorry I mean Churchill... calm down calm down. Very racist overtones there. Mind you, he could quite easily come back with the fact that Brits f*cked up quite a few countries throughout the world, as well as creating the mess that is Pakistan.

Two things you *****, firstly, I'm not CD.

Secondly, what was racist about my reply?

Thirdly, you're a *****!

[Andy2]

Britain got rich on the back of empire . There was a programme on bbc about income of east india company in 1799 of a few million ,which is 3 billion pound in todays rate just for one year.
Now multiply that by about 200 years of occupation.

[ChimpMaster]

Two things you *****, firstly, I'm not CD.

Secondly, what was racist about my reply?

Thirdly, you're a *****!

What, I'm a star? Why thank you!

[sasguru]

From wikipedia, searching under "Indian economy":

"An estimate by Cambridge University historian Angus Maddison reveals that India's share of the world income fell from 22.6% in 1700, comparable to Europe's share of 23.3%, to a low of 3.8% in 1952.[17] While Indian leaders during the Independence struggle, and left-nationalist economic historians have blamed colonial rule for the dismal state of India's economy in its aftermath, a broader macroeconomic view of India during this period reveals that there were sectors of growth and decline, resulting from changes brought about by colonialism and a world that was moving towards industrialisation and economic integration.[18][19]"

[DodgyAgent]

Britain got rich on the back of empire . There was a programme on bbc about income of east india company in 1799 of a few million ,which is 3 billion pound in todays rate just for one year.
Now multiply that by about 200 years of occupation.

I do not know why this is relevant or why you people try to quantify the effects of colonialism. All I can suppose is that it is a guilt thing. Really it is impossible to prove how these countries would have fared without our influence.

It seems to me that the richest and most developed countries within their respective regions are former colonies of the UK.

South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe (until Mugabe got hold of it)Kenya are the richest countries in Africa.
Canada, Singapore, India, Australia and NZ.
Leaving poorer countries such as Pakistan as ones that got away.