Joined
·
567 Posts
Hi - i've been reading this, today:
The rift over immigration to Britain continues to widen | Peter Kellner | Comment is free | theguardian.com
The results of this poll by the UK's 'Guardian' newspaper make interesting reading - not least, because the main concern for the majority of the public polled was the issue of 'the right to free movement of citizens within the EU. The respondents were advised that this right extends to British citizens, too - but, that argument cut no ice, whatsoever!
We Brits. who are living in Spain, whilst retaining our British citizenship, might feel the need to consider what, exactly, our position might be in this and in other EU states, should our politicians decide to take heed of the majority (or, more likely, succumb to the pressure..) and seek a 'let-out' on the 'free movement' issue!
Here's the relevant part of the article concerned;
Saludos,
GC
The rift over immigration to Britain continues to widen | Peter Kellner | Comment is free | theguardian.com
The results of this poll by the UK's 'Guardian' newspaper make interesting reading - not least, because the main concern for the majority of the public polled was the issue of 'the right to free movement of citizens within the EU. The respondents were advised that this right extends to British citizens, too - but, that argument cut no ice, whatsoever!
We Brits. who are living in Spain, whilst retaining our British citizenship, might feel the need to consider what, exactly, our position might be in this and in other EU states, should our politicians decide to take heed of the majority (or, more likely, succumb to the pressure..) and seek a 'let-out' on the 'free movement' issue!
Here's the relevant part of the article concerned;
.; In large measure, then it's not specific immigration policies that voters reject, but the belief that they are too easily evaded and/or not fully enforced.
That said, there is one feature of current immigration policy that most voters do dislike. By almost 2:1 they want the European Union to scrap the right of free movement throughout the EU. In asking the question we made clear that this freedom cuts both ways, with Britons able to live and work elsewhere in the EU and citizens of other EU countries to settle here. By 52% to 29%, voters want David Cameron to seek to end these rights as part of his proposed renegotiation of the United Kingdom's relationship with the EU.
The importance of this is underlined by responses to another question. We listed 10 possible issues for renegotiation and asked people to identify up to three that mattered most to them. "Greater control of our borders and immigration from the EU" was the runaway winner, picked by 57%. It was the first choice of every social, political and demographic group. The next two – our ability to determine our own trade policies, and set our own human rights laws – came a distant, joint second, on 27%.
Saludos,
GC