The answer to poverty isn’t to pitch one worker against another of a different nationality; it’s to combat the systems and structures that lead to such inequality.
The answer to poverty isn’t to pitch one worker against another of a different nationality; it’s to combat the systems and structures that lead to such inequality
In light of the European election results, it is clear that UKIP’s rhetoric has resonated among the public. With more MEPs than any other party and over 27 per cent of the vote, fear about immigration and the harmful effects of EU membership is widespread. UKIP’s popularity, however, means that it’s now more important than ever to scrutinise their rhetoric.
Of course, much has been written about the economic benefits of membership to the EU, and specifically, immigration. Reports have highlighted that migration increases the UK’s GDP, and aids public finances. Yet it’s been claimed that these economic benefits aren’t felt by low-paid workers, a viewpoint that may indeed be valid considering the worrying increase in inequality within the UK over recent decades.
Depending on the measurement, it is thought that the UK has the sixth or seventh largest economy in the world. We benefit from an excellent National Health Service and state education system until the age of 18. The notion that the UK is ‘under threat’ is absurd, and represents a huge misunderstanding of our place in the world. We are immensely fortunate to be born into such a lifestyle when comparing the UK to other countries.
Why aren’t others entitled to this good fortune and lifestyle? What is it out about Britons that, just because we had the luck of being born here, makes us more deserving than immigrants? UKIP’s rhetoric is shrouded in the pernicious notion of birth-rights – the language that ‘we’ deserve ‘our’ land, ‘our’ hospitals and ‘our’ schools more than others who differ from us only by birthplace.
Considering this, it’s unsurprising that Farage’s party are so often described as racist, when so fundamental to their philosophy is the idea that British people are more deserving than others. When Farage speaks about the ‘people’s army’, he talks about an exclusively British ‘people’s army’, which concerns itself with improving life for British people, at the deliberate exclusion of others.
Yet foreign migrants are as deserving as anyone born in the UK, especially when considering that they are often attempting to escape poverty or to better their economic position.
To prioritise the curbing of immigration on the political agenda is to enthusiastically embrace structural global inequality. And not only to embrace such inequality, but to benefit from it, to maintain our privilege at the neglect of others. For anyone with any sense of a belief in equal opportunity, social mobility or economic equality, the issue is fundamentally the same; to accept privilege and to deny somebody else of similar opportunity is inherently unjust.
This is what is so concerning about the EU election results. We had a chance to mandate our representatives to act on a number of issues; to combat global poverty, to take measures on climate change or to prevent international organised crime such as sex trafficking. The kind of issues that fundamentally require international co-operation, and that UKIP ignore in favour of nationalistic entitlement.
Despite the privilege that the UK grants us, it would of course be unfair to deny that the UK faces significant challenges. In recent years, inequality has increased rapidly, food bank usage has soared, and many, both in and out of work, are struggling with poverty.
But to group low-paid workers of different nationalities against each other is just another aspect of the divide and rule culture that will help to foster tensions and divisions between communities. The answer to poverty isn’t to pitch one worker against another of a different nationality; it’s to combat the systems and structures that lead to such inequality.
We need to better represent workers and their rights, an end to zero-hours contracts and the implementation of a Living Wage, which pays all employees enough to maintain a reasonable quality of life. Similarly, the housing crisis can’t be solved by scapegoating foreigners – instead, the government must take responsibility and increase the building of council homes.
Indeed, between 2002-2012, a total of 9,860 council homes were built, less than 4 per cent of the number built over the same period 30 years ago. This is clearly inadequate for the UK’s growing population.
It would be foolish and wrong to argue that UK poverty doesn’t exist. However, it’s absurd to respond to such poverty by victimising fellow low-paid workers in other nations, whilst ignoring the structural inequality that exists within the UK. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, our fixation with immigration can only be described as a self-serving maintenance of our own privilege, which only reinforces the lottery of birth and stifles any essence of equal opportunities.
Farage claims that he’s leading a ‘people’s army’. In reality, he’s a public-schooled, millionaire City trader, playing divide and rule with oppressed communities. He knows who benefits from inequality and injustice, and he has no intention of changing it.
George Gillett blogs here
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43 Responses to “Structural inequality, not immigration, is the UK’s problem”
Trofim
But everybody’s been to university. My dog’s been to university, and his fleas have got degrees.
tf
Fantastic article, couldn’t have written it better myself. Ukip’s “us against them” rhetoric and the national sense of entitlement here in Britain is horrifying to watch and should be consistently challenged.
treborc1
The problem with knocking Farage is of course he’s offering what many people want, a vote on the EU, today we had that great man Blair speaking about why we should not get a vote basically because he knows best and we should basically listen to him.
Miliband actually said he has no time or cannot be bothered with the EU he has other more important things to do like making jobs for us and getting all those hard working peoples to vote labour.
I think we should have a vote on the EU I cannot vote Tory but I can vote UKIP for now anyway, but with labour now going off seeking hard working people what can one say
Tom O'Connor
Agree with sladmac and Sparky. And frankly, if the author was where my disabled wife and I are, socially and economically speaking, he wouldn’t be considering himself to be privileged.
Disheartened Non-EU Migrant
Actually not only British people can vote in the General Election, please see http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/who_can_register_to_vote.aspx. So I voted in the recent elections.
I am an immigrant myself – a non EU one from the Far East, part of the Commonwealth – and believe many, many years ago, something similar happened in my country – it wasn’t called immigration at that time but colonialism. It was the British and many other Western “superiors”. It was not our choice and we did not have a say whether we get colonised or otherwise. Ask any of us – we would say that colonialism of course, whilst is a form of oppression of the locals, it has also enriched us in many other ways – healthcare, education etc. So I am sure the truth is immigration is not an issue. An open door policy is an issue – you need to control immigration not shun all immigrants as benefitting from this country. Let me assure the taxes I pay to this country (where I am not entitled to benefits and quite rightly where I do not expect such benefits) are far more than what a minimum wage individual in the country would earn. So how is that even possible I am putting pressure to the system? That is not it, I came here to study and spent £15,000 a year at one of Britain’s top university for my tuition fee, not adding my living expenses in those years that I and many other foreign students contribute to the British economy.
I think whilst it is a strong sentiment in the British public – again quite rightly to feel this way – the immigrants in this country are forgotten in the debate. We are paying the price to be humiliated in public – categorising us as one size fits all – all the good we have done seems not be highlighted at all. When I came to study in the UK, universities hungry for foreign money came over and marketed not only university courses but also job prospects.
I think the UK needs to get a grip on its immigration policy and stop being one big hypocrite just because every 4-5 years you vote in different governments who change policies according to what you need. I think the immigrant community has had enough and to be honest – I always tell people go to where a country welcomes you to expand your horizons. Unfortunately, the UK is no longer such a country. I have built my life here and that’s fine. I will contribute in the community I live in and I love this country as much as my own. I am not the stereotypical “immigrant” that people like yourselves and the media portrays us to be. I am sure there are many like me who somehow are forgotten.
The UK needs to have a backbone – set and stick to something. Not decide A one day and B the next day just because it doesn’t work. You are dealing with lives – not just those who come in but those in the country. The open door policy has made as you claim impacted the British public – who voted that government in? The UK in the EU was a decision made by the UK government – who voted that government in? It’s almost like buying a house and then when interest rates go up you decide “You know what Mr Bank I can’t pay this anymore it just doesn’t work with my salary”. The Bank comes after you doesn’t it. You have to fix it by selling the house or the Bank will sell it for you after repossessing it. Selling the house is not easy – can be done but not easy you probably need to take a hit if the market is s***t. But hey, deal with it.
Conclusion – take control of your borders. I was amazed that this country has no exit checks. Make immigration offence serious than it is. Stop acting you can handle asylum seekers so that you look good in the international community – truth is you can’t handle normal immigration even of skilled workers so really no point being a hypocrite dealing with asylum seekers – do this only if you have that spare capacity but looking at things you don’t. Some applications take years and by that time applicants automatically qualify for citizenship applications – how screwed up that is? The EU free market – unfortunately comes with the bigger package of the EU membership – but I think it’s a crappy idea – again hypocrisy. Let’s face it you are never going to have economic equilibrium are you with nearly a 30 country union? The idea is great and all looks great but be realistic. Stop blaming immigrants – we wouldn’t be here had you not welcomed us in the first place. Do not play host if you cannot – simple – but say it on the outset. Many other countries can play host no big deal but when you say you can you stick up to to what you say. Stop counting international students in your migration numbers – yes the UN definition is one thing – but this is where it sets you aside if you have intelligence/common sense. A degree course is 3 years so you are including these international student migrants spending cash in this country contributing to the economy in billions of pounds in your net migration figure that you’d like see the number go down? Well tough luck there! These students cannot work/have restrictions on the number of hours they can do – and to be honest – be as restrictive as you can the majority of the international students would not care, so how are they taking British jobs? I think the Government and the British public are not at all engaged making the public delusion by high level figures. You should look who make up the proportion of immigrants and NEVER categorise us as all in one bag of things. We too are professionals from all around the world and truth be told can only take these public bashings to a certain extent.