Government need "to get a grip of illegal immigration and border security fast".

[Mich the Tester]

You mean you wouldn't have wanted Boris Johnson to be an MP?

There are quite a few people around who were born abroad due to their parents working there.

Indeed. Stopping people born outside the UK would exclude a lot of people with plenty to offer, but perhaps more pernicious; it would further restrict the choices of the electorate. Why restritc people's right to vote for the person they feel best represents them?

[Troll]

On a separate note - should we allow people born outside the UK to be able to stand as MPs

You mean you wouldn't have wanted Boris Johnson to be an MP?

Why not?

How about
Conflict of Interest?

A world of difference between UK citizens who happen to have their child in a foreign country and then returned & someone who came here aged 10.

Also first generation immigrants should not be allowed to vote

[shaunbhoy]

A world of difference between UK citizens who happen to have their child in a foreign country and then returned & someone who came here aged 10.

But not in your blanket proposal to stop people born outside the UK standing as MPs. Both elements would be caught. Not really thought it through have you........again? Nice one Mr Griffin.

[EternalOptimist]

Having representatives is a throwback to an era when you couldnt get 40 million people into the House of Commons.
It never worked properly, never worked as well as it might.

But now we can get everyone together in one place, with the interweb. It's only a matter of time till some country tries this, then the rest will follow.


Then we can sack the whole lot of them

[Mich the Tester]

How about
Conflict of Interest?

A world of difference between UK citizens who happen to have their child in a foreign country and then returned & someone who came here aged 10.

Also first generation immigrants should not be allowed to vote

Firstly, I've never understood this 'conflict of interest' argument. I was born in a west African country, grew up partly in the Uk and partly in other European countries and now live in NL. I have no conflict of interest; I have a conscience which guides my behaviour and choices. The only conflict of interest in national matters could be between my conscience and a particular country. If the UK or NL were abolish democracy and start sticking people in concentration camps that would conflict with my conscience; if another country were to actively oppose that, my conscience would tell me to support their actions within reasonable, moral boundaries. In other words, I do not have blind loyalty to a state, and I would hope that very few people do.

Secondly, your 'world of difference' is in your own head; you cannot judge how different peoples' attitudes have been formed by their experiences without getting inside their heads, which you can't.

Thirdly, your statement about 'first generation immigrants' is actually identical to your first statement about people who are born outside the UK, and simply restricts the right of British people to elect their representatives.

As well as all that, you seem to want place of birth to be a determinant in suitability to represent the people; I find it somewhat silly, after all, the accident of plopping out of one's mother in one location or another doesn't seem to me to be any indicator of ability or integrity.

[Troll]

But not in your blanket proposal to stop people born outside the UK standing as MPs. Both elements would be caught

I think the clue would be in "UK citizens"

HTH

[Troll]

Firstly, I've never understood this 'conflict of interest' argument. I was born in a west African country, grew up partly in the Uk and partly in other European countries and now live in NL. .

So...where would you say you belong?

[Mich the Tester]

So...where would you say you belong?

You're begging the question. Why should I 'belong' somewhere?

Oh, and by the way, I don't think I've ever 'neg repped' anybody.

[EternalOptimist]

You're begging the question. Why should I 'belong' somewhere?

Everyone has to belong Mich. No man is an Island, only a fool makes his world a little colder and birds of a feather flock together

[Mich the Tester]

Everyone has to belong Mich. No man is an Island, only a fool makes his world a little colder and birds of a feather flock together

Well, in that sense, yes, I 'belong' where my family is; that's NL, UK, Australia and Germany at the moment.