Reply to: Britain to become the biggest country in Europe by 2050

[scooterscot]

Are we reclaiming land or something? It's about time.

[GreenerGrass]

My guess is as conditions deteriorate, net migration out of the country will soar. We will become the national equivalent of Liverpool, which I believe lost half of its population over the last 60 years.

The trouble is where are all these people going to go if this is a global depression? And if there is no work abroad then no other country will pay them benefits.
And on the immigration side if you are a hungry illegal immigrant in total poverty from a drought stricken or war-torn country then Britain will still be massively appealing as the land of milk and honey. It won't matter if unemployment is 4 million. If you have nothing to lose then you will do anything to get here, at least while we retain the weakest, stupidest, most pathetic government in Europe that takes 30 years to deport 500 people.

On the plus side if climate change isn't made up then the south of England could have the best climate and some of the most expensive real estate in the world as southern Europe turns to desert. It may be a bit early to migrate yet.

P.S. Is this biggest country in Europe by 2050 based on there being a Labour government until then?

[MrMark]

Only the rich, highly-educated, or senior multi-national company employees will have the option to work abroad, while keeping their original standard of living.
And that's not many people as a proportion of the population.

So all the migrants over the years coming here (Caribeans, Poles, Indians etc) were rich? No, there'll be a diaspora of the Brits, similar to that of the Irish, as everyone scrambles abroad in search of work. See first series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

[sasguru]

My guess is as conditions deteriorate, net migration out of the country will soar.

Only the rich, highly-educated, or senior multi-national company employees will have the option to work abroad, while keeping their original standard of living.
And that's not many people as a proportion of the population.

[MrMark]

My guess is as conditions deteriorate, net migration out of the country will soar. We will become the national equivalent of Liverpool, which I believe lost half of its population over the last 60 years.

[denver2k]

Polygamy is going strong in the UK among muslims and benefits are available to all of a man's wives. The authorities just turn a blind-eye as they seem to do with everything non-English/Christian related. Jack Straw incidentally lives in a marginal seat where there are many polygamists, so do you really wonder.

BUT my point is that there should be no benefit for wives and kids....Full stop...Now its up to people whether they have 1 or x number of marriages, none or x number of kids.....waeva.....

[AlfredJPruffock]

I'll forgive you northeners and Scots as it's well known that you are not the sharpest tools in the box (witness how a Scot has brought this country low by claiming to have "abolished boom and bust"

You didnt buy that - did you ?

Mr Brown is a well known Jacobite agent whom having sucesfully destroyed the City of London, in a way that Bin Laden could only dream about - will now return to his rightful place in the SNP.

[Cyberman]

PS: Someone mentioned polygamy. Last time when i checked it was illegal in Britain.There are hundreds of other illegal ways to do nasty things. So dont moan about that please.

Polygamy is going strong in the UK among muslims and benefits are available to all of a man's wives. The authorities just turn a blind-eye as they seem to do with everything non-English/Christian related. Jack Straw incidentally lives in a marginal seat where there are many polygamists, so do you really wonder.

[Foxy Moron]

Fanny Craddock?

[oracleslave]

I can't be arsed to look up the detail but a few years ago there was a guy arrived with more than 1 wife. Naurally only one was recognised. The guy was somewhat affronted and launched a campaign (possibly to Europe) which did eventually get his muliple wives partially recognised.

He should have been forced to select the one with the biggest bakery products.

[ASB]

Someone mentioned polygamy. Last time when i checked it was illegal in Britain.There are hundreds of other illegal ways to do nasty things. So dont moan about that please.

I can't be arsed to look up the detail but a few years ago there was a guy arrived with more than 1 wife. Naurally only one was recognised. The guy was somewhat affronted and launched a campaign (possibly to Europe) which did eventually get his muliple wives partially recognised.

[denver2k]

I can not understand whats the actual point of discussion here......Started off with population and going towards North/South debate.

Anyways, for me, the way forward is "Abolish benefits system". Only give it to really needy one like Old people,Disabled etc. No benefits for Junkies etc. No housing , council benefits to any one.

And, strictly no benefit at all for people who try "producing" as many kids as possible. Parents are only responsible for their kids. Taxpayers/State must not pay them a penny for Child benefits and stuff (Tax discounts for Parents are fair enought though).

Now, dont get me wrong, I love kids and if i get married i would love to have a cricket team of kids(only if i can afford them). But im just sick of all this benefits culture. Approx 2million people are unemployed at the moment, but im sure about 1 million or 0.5 million had never arsed to do any work anyway and live on benefits.

I read an article about a family in East Glasgow, who'v been on benefits from last 40 years. No one never ever worked and their 17 year also got a kid....

And the fact of life is that people who come from abroad are just here either because there are not enough people to work or ppl here dont wana work and prefer claiming benefits.

So, Reduce taxes and reduce benefits....Bring back lazy people to work and thats the way forward.....

PS: Someone mentioned polygamy. Last time when i checked it was illegal in Britain.There are hundreds of other illegal ways to do nasty things. So dont moan about that please.

[DimPrawn]

Ok joking aside - it seems to me that London has more in common with New York, say, than Manchester, problems in the City notwithstanding.
There is a particular global outlook here that is not shared in the regions.

Yes, both New York and London finacial centres are both effectively bankrupt.

[Foxy Moron]

It's the capital FFS, everything economicly trickles from or to it. Therefore, It doesn't just belong to Londoners (many are foreigners anyway with less claim). It belongs to the citizens of the UK. It seems to me apart from a few blackspots, we are all contributting. The economy is much more complex than it used to be, making some of these stats deceptive.

[sasguru]

Ok joking aside - it seems to me that London has more in common with New York, say, than Manchester, problems in the City notwithstanding.
There is a particular global outlook here that is not shared in the regions.