 | Forum
Reply | Iranian Small Boat Migrants on Terrorism Charges
at 13:17 4 Oct 2026
Re Dr W’s remark that "demographics are only going one way," I find it interesting to reflect on how that was allowed to happen. Around 1980 there was a fairly widespread expectation among establishment politicians, officials and demographers that the population resulting from post-war immigration would settle at a stable long-term level, rather than continuing to grow indefinitely. In 1979 the OPCS had predicted that the “New Commonwealth and Pakistani” ethnic-origin population would settle at 3.3 million. Those like Enoch Powell who argued that an ethnically-distinct population would persist and grow, because of in-group reproduction as well as further immigration, were heavily criticized both by Labour politicians of the day and quite a few in the Tory Party.
Here are extracts from an immigration debate in March 1980.
Enoch Powell (UUP): I was saying that we know, because it is the result of facts which already exist, the minimum proportion in future which that population will represent to the whole over the areas of this country which are concerned. We know that in central London it will be one-third or more; and we know that there will be a similar ratio in many of the other great cities of England.(…) It is absurd to contend that one can bring an end to immigration when this is to be the pattern of our future population. By the very natural order of things such a population, taking it as a whole—the parts vary to some extent—is bound to involve—I almost said "to require" —continuing immigration. Therefore, the attempt to deal with the anxieties of great numbers in our cities, the attempt to deal with the fears or feelings or whatever it was to which the Prime Minister was referring, by adjustment of the detailed requirements for immigration, is not merely futile; it is either deception or it is, more charitably, self-deception.(…)
Alexander Lyon (L)
Is not the fallacy of the argument of the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) that when this population stabilises at 3.3 million there will not be any substantial danger such as he argued in the past. These people, though their ethnic origin may be Asian or West Indian, will be British in their outlook and the composition of this society will be different; it will be settled and harmonious.
(…)
Eric Heffer (L)
I have been listening very carefully to the right hon. Gentleman. I must explain that I have black relatives and I do not take kindly to the sort of statements that he is making. Apart from that, what is the logic of his argument, where is he leading us? (…) What does he propose? Is he suggesting that we should send all these coloured people back?
(…)
Alexander Lyon
The right hon. Member gives offence every time he opens his mouth on this subject.
https://api.parliament.uk/hist
It is Powell who many still denigrate, but Labour politicians like Lyon and Heffer are the ones who deserve to be remembered for their part in the genesis of the problem we now face. [Post edited 4 Oct 14:02]
|
| Forum
Reply | Protestors take to the street in Spain
at 07:37 4 Oct 2026
I'm starting to wonder if this is indeed about importing voters for Left-wing parties - an explanation I'd previously discounted. Even under first-past-the-post in the UK, we are getting to the stage (with the native population so divided) where quite a small change in voting patterns at the margin can determine who gets into government. This is even more the case under PR in much of Europe. For some countries like Sweden it seems too late already. Is this why Andy is talking about changing our voting system to switch to PR? |
| Forum
Reply | Iranian Small Boat Migrants on Terrorism Charges
at 07:23 4 Oct 2026
I half wondered whether the SAS had finally swung into action. But of course, our government is more likely to agree contracts that allow return of rubber dinghies to France than authorise covert direct action.  [Post edited 4 Oct 7:24]
|
| Forum
Reply | Pm goes along with corruption.
at 07:01 4 Oct 2026
It has emerged that Manchester City Council struck a "sweetheart deal" with the Abu Dhabi United Group (closely associated with Man City FC) whereby ADUG was granted "first offer" on land available for property developments across the city. In some instances land may have been sold at discounted prices. The 2015 deal predates Burnham's election as mayor, but he must have been well aware of the arrangement and known of more recent land sales. Burnham was the mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, not the city council. However, at the very least, this revelation rather undermines the image of Manchester as this exemplary model of efficient local governance, whose mayor could bring his expertise to the national level. This makes our PM's recent statement look most unwise.
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/po [Post edited 4 Oct 7:13]
|
| Forum
Reply | Iranian Small Boat Migrants on Terrorism Charges
at 12:43 3 Oct 2026
Some relevant evidence. I amused myself by compiling a list of terrorists and murderers (just the asylum seekers rather than all those of "foreign heritage"). This probably isn't complete. I well remember at the time of the surge of migration into Germany, several BBC commentators saying that migrants crossing into the UK would pose no risk.
Ahmed Hassan Iraqi; entered clandestinely in 2015 and claimed asylum; treated as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child. Parsons Green Tube bombing, 2017 — planted an IED on a District Line train; 51 people were injured
Salih Khater Sudanese; came to Britain as an asylum seeker; subsequently became a British citizen. Westminster terrorist attack, 2018 — drove a car into cyclists and pedestrians and then into security barriers outside Parliament.
Khairi Saadallah Libyan; claimed asylum and was granted refugee status in 2018. Reading/Forbury Gardens attack, 2020 — stabbed three men to death and injured three others.
Ahmed Ali Alid Moroccan; entered UK illegally in 2020 and claimed asylum; his claim was still pending when he offended. Hartlepool attack, 2023 — murdered Terence Carney and attempted to murder his housemate
Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai Afghan; entered UK in 2019 and claimed asylum, initially claiming to be a 14-year-old unaccompanied child. Bournemouth murder, 2022 — stabbed 21-year-old Thomas Roberts during an argument over an e-scooter
Azam Mangori Iraqi Kurd; asylum application refused in 2018, but remained in the UK. Exeter murder, 2020 — murdered Lorraine Cox and subsequently dismembered her body
Eltiona Skana Albanian; entered UK in 2014 and claimed asylum; her claim was initially refused but she subsequently obtained leave to remain. Bolton killing, 2020 — killed seven-year-old Emily Jones.
Sulaiman Tajzai Afghan; entered UK in 2022 claiming to be 14 and claimed asylum in 2023. Westminster murder, 2026 — travelled from Leeds to London and stabbed Farmanullah Sherzad to death. [Post edited 3 Oct 12:49]
|
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 05:57 3 Oct 2026
If you make a contentious claim, you should produce hard evidence. Part of the two-tier claim is that similar behaviour results in different charges, and of course the reason given for an arrest is not always the same as the charge confirmed by the CPS. I suspect that the large number of violent disorder charges made after Southport may tilt the argument in your favour, but that seems a bit of an outlier from the usual trend. My impression is that quite a few Left-wing activists are in the frame but that in cases like Just Stop Oil other charges are selected. [Post edited 3 Oct 6:36]
|
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 05:49 3 Oct 2026
If you believe that Connolly was really calling for murder by arson when she wrote "for all I care", or that Thomas intended to drown the rescue worker, then you are on a different planet from me. But I suppose I knew that already.. [Post edited 3 Oct 6:06]
|
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 19:47 2 Oct 2026
I question whether the claim is correct, even if you narrow the meaning of the phrase "arrested for violent disorder" to the speocfic offense that the CPS opts to charge the arrested person with, rather than the general meaning of the words "violent disorder". Violent disorder under s2 of the Public Order Act 1986 is one of the two charges in the ongoing Palestine Action case. |
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 18:56 2 Oct 2026
I hesitate to post this as I see Gwyn as a highly-valued poster, who represents a viewpoint that we need on the forum, but the post I am thinking of was made on Sept 26th (bottle thread). The phrase I used and to which Gwyn responded was "violent disorder".
Gwyn's post said: "The right wing protesters tend to be arrested more for violent disorder so more likely to get jail terms."
And there is no need for an apology, as I am happy with the cut and thrust of our debates. [Post edited 2 Oct 18:58]
|
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 17:57 2 Oct 2026
What I had in mind are protesters and those who post certain comments on social media. It seems to me that those on the political Right are getting tougher treatment than those on the Left. I was reminded of a comment you made recently about most of the violent disorder coming from the Right just today when I read about the trial of Palestine Action defendants that has just begun. Although this bunch were eventually remanded in custody, that happened some time after the alleged offences were committed in August 2024 in Bristol.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/art
In their various operations (before the organisation was proscribed) PA are known to have used a sledge hammer, carpentry hammers, crowbars and in the present case kebab skewers. [Post edited 2 Oct 18:00]
|
| Forum
Thread | Oversight of the welfare bill
at 07:36 2 Oct 2026
We know that there is political opposition in the ranks of Labour, the Greeens and the SNP to curtailing the welfare bill, but have less information about how far officials in the welfare system collaborate in waving through dubious claims. The Conservative leader in Scotland, Russell Findlay, has been saying for a while that the SNP's "light touch" approach is a fraudster's charter, and now the evidence seems to be firming up.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news
I wonder if Wales is any better. [Post edited 2 Oct 7:59]
|
| Forum
Reply | Booze Runs to England
at 16:41 1 Oct 2026
Irranca-Davies complains about MS's trying his patience. Don't the clowns behind these attempts to police language, and bring about what almost amounts to Orwellian thought control, realise they are trying our patience to the extent that we start to think about ropes and lamp-posts. |
| Forum
Reply | Early release prisoners
at 11:06 1 Oct 2026
"Includes the lad who assisted Connor Chapman kill Elle Edwards"
Got to make room for Daniel Thomas and future protestors or purveyors of hurty words on X! I find this two-tier justice very hard to forgive. Those responsible deserve to be held to account. |
| Forum
Reply | Do you support the arrival of illegal immigrants
at 16:51 29 Sep 2026
That post contains errors. People from Hong Kong and Ukraine benefited from bespoke humanitarian visa schemes providing "safe and legal routes", and are not counted in the asylum statistics.
Yes, mass migration in all its forms is part of the wider picture, but some of the most egregious examples of criminality and terrorism have involved people entering the UK via the asylum route.
Edit. Forgot to add that although there was an increase in the number of non-EU students after Brexit, one has to take account of what has happened with dependants. According to the ONS non-EU immigrants initially arriving on a study-related visa was 423,000 in the year ending December 2023, falling to 266,000 in 2024. The 2024 reduction was due to a sharp fall in dependants following government restrictions introduced in January 2024.
So I disagree with aspects of your post. Readers can make up their own minds about where the truth lies. [Post edited 29 Sep 17:08]
|
| Forum
Reply | Jailed for throwing a plastic bottle and swearing
at 16:33 29 Sep 2026
Daniel Thomas was remanded in custody at the Crown Court hearing today, wth the trial provisionally set for March 1st 2027. I'm sorry, but I cannot see much beyond the maximum sentence for the criminal damage charge being 3 months (assuming less than £5000 worth of damage and that the dinghy has a legal owner). Obviously, the PIN charge does carry a probable 2 year sentence, but I think the authorities are really over-egging this and that there will be a backlash
https://www.bbc.com/news/artic |
| Forum
Reply | Do you support the arrival of illegal immigrants
at 14:06 29 Sep 2026
The problem isn't primarily the number of asylum claims in a given year but the cumulative number of persons arriving over recent years. That is why Labour's trumpeting of the reduced number arriving this year doesn't satisfy a lot of us. I'd say that all older posters can see the change in the UK, even if some say it isn't a problem. |
| Forum
Reply | Idah
at 06:27 29 Sep 2026
I'm just glad that Adam did his job and came through this uninjured and with another international goal to his credit. |
| | AnotherJohn
|
Site Scores| Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 0 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.