Statistics tend to look at overall percentages, part of the whole, and at 0.5%, it is close to statistically insignificant. He is correct in that and many other of his statements. A great article.

Most certainly not European.

An annual figure, in the sense that it occurred in a 12 month period, but it is not a fixed figure; in future growth may be at a higher or lower rate. Over 10 years it is impossible to predict.

Incidentally, the world population is growing at a faster rate than 0.5% annually, why should the UK be exempt from that? People have to live somewhere, and the majority of those coming to the UK tend to be better educated on average than those remaining in their homelands.

There are positives to people coming to the UK, though sections of the media choose to only look at (and exaggerate) the downside.

I used to be immortal

I agree, which is why I said you can argue that the imigration is beneficial. My only objection was to the claim that imigration numbers are insignificant - they are not, and it just perpetuates the 'head-in-the-sand' and 'we-will-not-discuss-it-for-fear-of-accusations-of-racism' attitudes which make the situtaion far worse than it needs to be.

Frank, honest, and open discussion is required, of both the benefits and the drawbacks. That discussion may very well come to the conclusion that the numbers are sustainable, or even that they could be increased, but avoiding the discussion helps nobody. Personally, I'm all for imigration when it comprises skilled people, and I favour a points based system, but that's a different debate

Significant yes to you or I, but In statistical terms, they are insignificant. What that really means is that in terms of numbers in the population they are not that high. That said, in terms of the economic contribution, extremely positive overall. The issue is surely that when someone knows of an immigrant claiming benefits, then they all are! I live in Birmingham, having lived in Perth WA for almost 4-years, and it is such a mixed race city to come back to, it was a shock at first! How many are immigrants, and of what generation, who knows! The fact is that typically immigrants serve the UK well and have for the last century and more. My in laws are immigrants, from India in the 50s. Worked in iron foundries post wartime and worked hard for themselves and the country. Different times now, differing immigrant nationalities, but, the same potential work ethic.

Edited by moylerg (11 Feb 2015 6.54pm)

Most certainly not European.

It has become a standard thing to say that immigration is economically a good thng and that we are better off as a result of immgration over the last 15-20 years. Really?
The number of foreign born people has risen from 3 to 7 million in that time. Well that is not a bad experiment - if there were economic advantages they should now be readily apparent. They are not. Even the most liberal economists say that the economic benefits are marginal at best. What they cannot Inclde in their sums, because they are unknowns, is the impact of illegal workers on the job market and the impact of a shadow population on services, housing, schools, hospitals and prisons. No one can calculate the impact on the economy of those millions who send much of their earnings abroad rather than recycle wealth into our economy. Even if there were a marginal economic benefit it is more than offset by the social tensions and risks to our security.

Yes, I am an agent of Satan but my duties are largely ceremonial

It is notable that no one from teh government is denying that 60% of teh cuts are yet to come.

So if you think things are bad now just wait...

Taking the bungy jump since 1964. Never to see John Jackson in a shirt again

Sorry to see Lee Hills go, did we ever see Alex Marrow? We did January 2013