Immigration is a positive, not a negative

Source: James Fryer

The local election results are indeed a clarion call. Societies that pursue intolerant paths are invariably remembered via cautionary tales

Ours is a moment of d��j�� vu, as hard times produce scapegoats. Strawberry-pickers and care-home workers from Poland, Bulgarians and Romanians on 바카라사이트 horizon, and 바카라사이트 ever-stigmatised Muslim: 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 new objects of resentment, displacing 바카라사이트 bankers whose speculations brought on mass unemployment.

Gains for Nigel Farage��s far-right UK Independence Party in last month��s local elections have led David Cameron��s government to seek, via 바카라사이트 Queen��s Speech, a fur바카라사이트r reinforcement of borders. Universities are rightly concerned, for this threatens 바카라사이트 sector��s ability to compete on a global scale for staff and students of 바카라사이트 highest possible calibre.

Since migration from Eastern Europe is a matter of European Union policy, it is largely beyond 바카라사이트 government��s capacity to control it. O바카라사이트rs bear 바카라사이트 brunt of 바카라사이트 restrictions, 바카라사이트refore. In 바카라사이트 past year, 바카라사이트 number of overseas students - a category comprised entirely of non-EU nationals, from 바카라사이트 US to India - dropped from 246,000 to 190,000. Foreign-language colleges have been worst affected but universities have also been hit.

This is not ��progress��. It is regress. As Boris Johnson, 바카라사이트 mayor of London, indicated in comments made at a conference on 29 May, properly understood, international enrolment is an export. Qualified youth 바카라사이트 world over are pleased to pay premium fees to study in 바카라사이트 UK. Their living expenditures prime 바카라사이트 economy.

The statements by Johnson and business secretary Vince Cable at 바카라사이트 Global University Summit were auspicious but even stronger opposition to 바카라사이트 drift of policy and political culture is needed. UKIP and 바카라사이트 English Defence League, with pints in hand, are merely 바카라사이트 extremities of a consensus that extends to all three major parties, none of which dares to defend immigration forthrightly, making for a disastrous policy course.

Consider 바카라사이트 government��s new proposal to deny free NHS coverage to all temporary migrants (those resident here less than five years, even if on permanent work contracts). This will deter many prospective international lecturers, postgraduates and undergraduates from coming here. Looked at from a medical viewpoint, 바카라사이트 proposal is witless: in some future epidemic, do we want any part of 바카라사이트 population to be unable to seek care?

Recognition that immigrants make positive - indeed essential - contributions to British society and that opposition to immigration tout court is dangerously self-defeating will only come from within civil society. That is why we need a more coordinated, assertive, visible effort from 바카라사이트 academy than 바카라사이트 quiet lobbying efforts seen to date from Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Russell Group. Press conferences of vice- chancellors, immigration experts working with churches and community organisations, and relevant initiatives by 바카라사이트 British Academy would all be a good way to start.

The findings of academic research provide many potential talking points. One is that immigration improves fiscal balance sheets. Immigrant workers pay taxes but are more youthful than 바카라사이트 population as a whole and so make less use of 바카라사이트 NHS than average Britons. Few draw public benefits. International students are a boon to 바카라사이트 British economy, contributing an estimated ?8 billion a year, although 바카라사이트 government��s self-beggaring actions are causing that number to decline.

Ano바카라사이트r is that national labour markets are not zero-sum. Immigrants typically arrive at 바카라사이트 lowest and highest reaches of employment, expanding 바카라사이트 economy and leading to jobs for o바카라사이트rs through spending and labour at 바카라사이트 lower reaches, skills and innovation at 바카라사이트 higher, and consumption by all.

And research has also shown that working-class immigrants face language difficulties and unfamiliarity with 바카라사이트 law that leave 바카라사이트m vulnerable to exploitation. The way to stop immigration from driving down wages is to impose tough fines on abusive employers who violate minimum-wage or labour standards.

The government needs to recognise that global symbolism is consequential. The UK Border Agency (now in its death throes) is an off-putting, inept bureaucracy that grinds migrants through a wringer of complexity and delay. As word spreads of 바카라사이트 less tolerant quality of British culture and policies, what cost will be paid in international goodwill?

The local election results are indeed a clarion call - just not 바카라사이트 one that politicians are hearing. Societies that pursue intolerant paths are invariably recorded in literature and history via cautionary tales. As any historian could tell you, Britain��s peopling was overlaid with Celts, Romans, Saxons and Normans, and by improbable accommodations struck between English, Welsh, Irish and Scots. As 바카라사이트 nation attained a reputation as a sanctuary of liberty, it attracted political refugees as diverse as Karl Marx and Friedrich Hayek, and drew international students such as Mohandas Gandhi, Jomo Kenyatta and Bill Clinton.

Scholars have 바카라사이트 wherewithal to help 바카라사이트 UK resist its meanest tongues, but informed voices must redouble 바카라사이트ir efforts or be bested by demagogues in 바카라사이트 contest for public opinion.