[Herbster]

Originally Posted by The Wottons

Unfortunately it's too late to do anything about it now. A bit like shutting the gate after the horse has already bolted. That's why all us Brits are leaving. I never thought I would say it, but I can't wait to get out of this country.

Hi Guys:
The Problem is that Britain is not like Oz, & not in the obvious way you may think! OK, New Zealander's & Ozzie's can shuffle fairly easily backwards & forwards between their borders, but as there's relatively few of them, they speak the same language & have much else in common this is not seen as a problem. Don't forget, we're in the EU now!!
Our particular situation here, is that UK is a part of the EU which is HUGE; massively varied in its peoples, customs, languages, traditions, etc., and the strict emigration rules that we DO have in force (say for example for folks coming from non-EU countries) can not be applied. The basic point of EU is free movement of its people's across borders, and whether that means Fred Bloggs going to live in Seville, or Madame Pompadour working in Prague, or Romanian Gypsies hanging around in Nottingham NHS A&E's, that's what happens when the Borders come down & we all unite! And wonderful politicians haven't thought the process through...?
Believe it or not, to my knowledge, the French & Spanish have precisely the same problems we have, with a huge influx of immigrants (many of them Brits) flooding their essential services. Especially in the case of Spain, where so many of us have second homes, and as such are non-residents, which can NOT be counted and included in local infrastructure plans because they are NOT permanent, tax-paying residents. However, try explaining that to people when the water dries up, electricity frizzles out, or hospital's can't cope, due to actual huge increases in populations at popular times of the year. The available services become stretched beyond breaking point & locals struggle to meet the costs which can not be met through fair taxation, because these residents are only temporary. So, we have to ask Who Does Foot The Bill?
I heard several of the questions True Emigrants to UK are asked include such rubbish as what is the name of the Welsh Parliament & how many members does it have?? What's that got to do with being a decent productive UK citizen???
It's the EU that needs sorting out really, before we dump all the blame on our Government for what is perceived to be happening only here with emigration. After all, there are probably people we'd love to have in this country, but we can't because so many Europeans get to come here first, whether we like/want them or not!
I suppose what we need are answers to this & then inundate our MP's & EMP's for solutions, just don't hold your breath... Keep on being patient with Visa Process...

Herbster
:)