I don't know firsthand about your political parties, but I sympathize because it's pretty much the same problem of choosing between the lesser of two evils here these days in the US. I've voted for candidates in either of our two main parties and even looked at third party candidates. Over here though, both main parties have had candidates that have called for the erosion of privacy and personal liberty and both have shown about the same measure of ignorance regarding technology in general and internet commerce in particular. Both parties at their extremes are messy on immigration and healthcare. I think sometimes they know better, but choose to vocalize only the extreme positions that they think will appeal to their constituents.
So it can be shocking when actual competence does rear its head and quite amazing the country runs as well as it does.
I wouldn't say the UK's politicial situation is quite as bad as the US. We don't have our politicians being openly bri... I mean lobbied to the tune of millions of dollars and we can actually vote for alternative parties with a chance for actually bringing about change (UKIP). I used to feel pretty confident with the Tories, I supported Brexit and felt they'd do a decent job of it. But right now I'm looking at their cabinet and their past records and thinking to myself, these people are morons, really massive incompetent morons. So I need to find an alternative to vote for which there is none for me, UKIP were a one trick pony and Labour aren't even worth thinking about.
Actually the leader of the Scottish Tories seems a bit more capable than the rest.
Anyway I'm leaving this country next year so I'm done caring. I'm not staying to spend the rest of my life being taxed to hell to pay for the mistakes of my parents and to pay for other people's pensions knowing full well I'll never see one. (I'm 25). High cost of living, high taxation, poor services and terrible infrastructure - no thanks.
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I am one of those immigrants about whom you are complaining, but I feel your pain. I've been in the UK for more than 20 years now, and in that time the governments of both parties have curtailed various rights (e.g., freedom from double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, freedom of assembly, freedom from lengthy detention without trial, the right to privacy etc.). As a US citizen I have to say that many of these measures would have been unconstitutional in the US. I know many people are concerned about immigration to the UK, but one of the issues that will arise from Brexit is that the European Court will no longer protect UK citizens' rights. Unless the UK creates a Bill of Rights, or some other explicit document stating which rights are inviolable, then there is the risk that the government's infringement on personal liberties will accelerate, and not just in relation to privacy but also everyday issues like consumer rights.
Interesting you brought up double jeprody. They didn't just remove it, there has to be substantial new evidence to bring about a retrial. I actually agree with the change. As they showed cases where DNA evidence that wasn't previously available helped to convict.
I have zero issue with skilled immigration of people willing to integrate and adopt our values. I assume you fall into that category.
What I am f***ing sick of it mass uncontrolled immigration. We are a small island with a relatively high population. This has put massive strain on infrastructure, services and especially housing. It also suppresses the wages of low skilled British workers - at a nightshift courier job I worked at while studying our wages were cut due to the unlimited supply of Eastern European labour. Now that Brexit has happened and less people are deciding to come (I realise we still have open borders with the EU) they've suddenly upped the wage back to where it was years ago.
And let's not beat about the bush, the mass immigration of certain groups from the third world has been a ****ing disaster. Some cultures are inferior, anyone going to defend the Middle East's attitudes towards gays and women here? How about Pakistan's revenge rape culture?
Mass immigration is a huge topic and issue in Western countries and rightly so. It's damaging to us, and our politicians seem to just stick their heads in the sand and do nothing. Hence you get people voting for Trump and Brexit which in my opinion are symptoms of the problem.
I fully welcome skilled workers that we need like doctors, teachers, engineers, nurses, scientists. They should be welcome and encouraged to come here. But the uneducated, unskilled migrants are not welcome. Especially when they do not share in our values and culture.
Just a side note I'm actually emigrating to the US next year as I'm marrying an American. So I guess that will make me an immigrant. Difference between me and the people I dislike is I have money, I speak the language, I share the same values and culture, I have an engineering degree with skills to offer and job offers waiting for me. Plus my fiancé has lived in the U.K. for almost half a decade and benefited from being here so it's kind of swings and roundabouts.
