I don't really know how old you are, but the UK has, since the late 1990s (put that on an EU-policy timeline) experienced an unprecedented level of immigration. Post war was a steady increase, declining in the 60s, and stabilising up to the 80s. It then blew up to a level never before experienced since records began. We've now found, in the past few months, that the government has been underestimating these recent figures quite considerably.

As to your point about it being a success and a benefit. Success depends on how you measure it. That's up to you to decide. Benefit? Not financially, despite what you will be told by pro-EU fanatics (it's a fairly boring subject, but I can point you to some statistics).

Isnt it strange Hoof that we should agree to differ again because i find Dave's approach to debating rather immature......and i can assure you Dave that the Swiss do NOT trade freely with the Eu and that every economist i know who covers Switzerland thinks that their recent referendum decision will weaken their negotiating power and lead to poorer economic performance in the future.

As usual I listened in to Radio 4's today programme this morning and once again I was subjected to a biased report to fulfill the BBC's agenda of trying to persuade us that "Brexit" is a bad thing and will be the beginning of the end for us as a nation.

Usually they give Osborne short shrift when interviewed by them as his values as a capitalist right wing politician doesn't sit well with BBC liberal left leaning values.

Not this morning though... they lapped up his comparisons with Norway and Switzerland who he claims are worse off outside the EU because they want to trade with it and have no say but still adhere to all the fundamental laws like freedom of movement. When he finished they then interviewed the editor of The Economist who reinforced Osborne's views and predicted 2/5 years of turmoil after "brexit" whilst we negotiated terms to trade with other countries "having gone it alone"?

WTF?

Is the same George Osborne that has just hosted a Chinese delegation to forge trading links with the UK?

Let's remind ourselves why the whole of the World wants and likes to do business with (and this includes the whole of Europe!) and why we should not compare ourselves to Norway and Switzerland when contemplating trade deals with other countries. Facts Osborne etc have forgotten or conveniently ignoring right now.

My Top 10 reasons why Great Britain is Great!

1. We are the 5th largest economy in the world. Switzerland are 19th and Norway 27th both tiny in comparison to us.
2. We are not only the UK we are Great Britain - the Union Jack is a symbol people can trust around the world. It stands for superior quality, fairness, tradition and freedom.
3. The Queen and the Royal Family - other countries envy our monarchy and jump at the chance to cone here for all the pomp and circumstance. The pageantry, palaces and ceremony is fascinating to other countries that don't have it. When dignitaries visit the UK a slap up meal with the Queen at Buck House, a day out with Prince William, Kate and George on the Royal Barge is a treat no other country can even get close to matching!
4. Our Parliament and Legal system - Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, The Old Bailey, Scotland Yard, Wormwood Scrubs.... all iconic landmarks known around the World.
5. Our Sporting Heritage - the Premier League, the FA Cup, Wimbledon tennis, The Grand National, The Gold Cup, The Derby, The Open Golf, The 6 Nations Rugby, Test Match Cricket... all played or competed for at places known the world over... Wembley, Old Trafford, Wimbledon, Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom, St Andrews, Wentworth, Twickenham, Lords....look at how successful the Olympics were in 2012 when we showed the world how to do it with panache.
6. Our celebrity/pop culture - David Bowie, David Beckham, Sir Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Helen Mirren, Lewis Hamilton, Bradley Wiggins, Jess Ennis, Mo Farah.....
7. Our iconic Brand names - Aston Martin, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, BA, Saville Row, Burberry, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Cheddar Cheese, Glenfiddich, Melton Mowbray Pies, Aberdeen Angus Beef.....
8. London - attracts people to it like moths to a flame... there are just too many things to list fully but tourists love Red Buses, Taxis, Policemen, Police Horses, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Theatres, Hotels, The O2 arena, the Thames Barrier, Changing the Guard at Buck House, Hampton Court, Pubs, Houses of Parliament, Football Grounds... I could go on for ages...
9. Our rich and varied history - spread out across the whole of Britain from prehistoric times to the present day. Places like Lyme Regis, Hastings, York, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Cornwall, etc. Sites of important battles, fossils found on beaches millions of years old, The Tower of London, Stately homes that have had visits from Henry VIII, Hadrian's Wall (built by the Romans circa AD122) Viking treasure hordes displayed in museums, Stonehenge, The Giants Causeway, Edinburgh Castle etc..
10. Our entrepreneurial spirit - this is the country that built the Spitfire, invented television, the world wide web... scientists like Isaac Newton, Robert Hook, Stephen Hawking, Humphrey Davy, Charles Darwin... adventurers like Drake, Raleigh, Cook, Shackleton, Nelson... Authors/Playwrights/Poets like Shakespeare, Dickens, The Brontes, Wordsworth, Oscar Wilde...

I could go on, but you should be able to identify the vast collection of bargaining chips we have at our disposal to negotiate with when looking for new trading partners or to increase trade with established partners outside the EU compared to the likes of Norway and Switzerland.... compared to any other nation in fact!

I don't believe the EU will cast us adrift or impose harsh terms - they need us more than we need them - can you see Germany not selling us BMWs and Audi's or France not selling their wine to us?

Don't forget the Commonwealth either, which contains Australia, NZ, Canada, India and loads of African nations... and our special arrangement with the USA. We trade with lots of other nations who will gladly fill the void left by our EU departure... if it comes to that.

We will not struggle to trade IF the EU do decide to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

People like Osborne, Cameron and the BBC are just painting a picture of potential doom and gloom to further their own personal viewpoints/goals by persuading the gullible and/or disenfranchised populace to vote to stay in the EU.

My view is that the EU is costly, restrictive and harmful to our present way of life by allowing millions more immigrants to settle here when we do not have the room or facilities to cater for them.

Needless to say I will be voting Leave/Out.

Ah, the HOL; where an actual economist's opinion is glibly dismissed.

Never change, never change.

67,000 EU migrants arrived here without a job to go to last year latest figures show. Not a massive number given the figures being bandied about with net migration and obviously some if those would have found work soon enough.

Unless they are a needed dependant - mum with a baby or financially independent retired, etc - I think 3 months max for them to find a job before having to go back from whence they came is fair. Free movement but with restrictions if that makes sense. Won't happen anytime soon of course but you never know. One day.

But even if it didn't and just to reiterate -even if we vote 'out' and close the borders to the EU the population will still hit 70million within 20 years due to old age and other worldwide migration.

The perceived benefits of an 'out' will not be felt at all whilst this government keeps undermining health, housing and education and steadfastly refuses to take the seriousness of the problems onboard.

Also, there are too many fat fvckers, smokers and heavy drinkers putting pressure on the NHS, and parents not bringing up their kids well making teachers jobs tougher. They should take a big slice of blame too.

Big chest and massive boobs

[Link]

I'm 53, soon to be 54. I stick by what I posted as I am saying it from my point of view.

I have seen many good things due to immigration, and also several bad things. I saw my high street change with shops opening later and new things appearing on the shelves. I heard new types of music which were vibrant and exciting. My mates at school weren't just white people and I think I gained from experiencing some of their culture from their mums and dads. In 1977 I marched with my mates against the National Front in Lewisham. It is this fear of a growth of anti-immigrant groups, just as much as any immigrants causing trouble, which worries me the most.

I am not rabidly anti-immigration but, as I said, I do worry about the sudden mass immigration. I wish there was a way for the refugees to be able to be housed (in safety) in the countries they have fled from.

'Lies to the masses as are like fly's to mollasses...they want more and more and more'