Originally Posted by JU_88 (Post 2557252)

Possibly yes, But it will have to go eventually as its not sustainable, given our demographics. more than quarter of the governments budget goes on social protection - most of that being state pension, and it will keep growing for the foreseeable future. I'm betting they will start by raising the bar as to the retirement age and earnings threshold. So less people will qualify, they will probably try to transition it, e.g encouraging the next generation to set up private pension schemes etc. If they remove it slowly enough, few will complain. - That would be the Tory way and anyway -quiet and sneaky dismantling, lots of: 'shh oh look there's something more interesting over there!'.
The Labour version would be keep it going, prop it up with borrowing and continued mass immigration until it all implodes (likely during a major economic /sovereign debt crisis where our grandchildren / children of immigrants will decide they've had enough.)

Originally Posted by Jimbuna (Post 2557287)

At long last, some common sense regarding immigration.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44477095

Originally Posted by JU_88 (Post 2557289)

That seems sensible enough, but 'brain drain' is thing too. We have our own home grown doctors and yet we need more from other nations too, do those nations still have enough trained doctors for themselves? and if so why/how are they producing more than us?
I dunno its weird how people will argue for immigration based on the need for more NHS doctors, surely the elephant(s) in the room, is that we aren't producing enough doctors & nurses or - we are and they just don't want to work for the NHS because its horrible.
Fixing a nations skills shortage with migrants, should be considered a band aid or gap plug rather than a proper sustainable solution.
The current model begs the question, what are we going to do the day skilled migrants no longer want to come here for what ever reason?
E.g housing shortage, wages vs cost of living, economy tanks, political climate etc.

Originally Posted by Jimbuna (Post 2557372)

Some fair and valid points but it has worked for Canada, Australia and New Zealand to name a few.

My understanding is that a growing number of our trained medical staff prefer to go abroad once qualified for higher renumeration packages and a higher standard of living.