Last time I looked we were among the world's wealthiest nations, being the world's fourth largest economy with a GDP of $1.424 billion. We can afford to educate the indigenous and refugees and asylum seekers who, let's not forget, seek the UK as a safe not economic haven. And where is the logic in insisting that those coming to our country speak English and then denying them the teaching they need to do so?
I met some asylum seekers in Bury late last year. One I spoke to whom had fled one of the former Soviet states had been here three years with her young daughter. Her asyluim application has still not been resolved. She is not allowed to work, must wait in one day a week for Immigration to call and must report to Immigration in Salford every month when she may be advised of imminent deportation. She has learned English (speaks fluently) and has good skills, but cannot work. Her daughter is to all intents and purposes English having lived here the majority of her short life. Her friends are English, her whole frame of reference is English.
The whole debate over asylum and immigration has become stifling xenophobic and is fuelled by ignorance.
I met some asylum seekers in Bury late last year. One I spoke to whom had fled one of the former Soviet states had been here three years with her young daughter. Her asyluim application has still not been resolved. She is not allowed to work, must wait in one day a week for Immigration to call and must report to Immigration in Salford every month when she may be advised of imminent deportation. She has learned English (speaks fluently) and has good skills, but cannot work. Her daughter is to all intents and purposes English having lived here the majority of her short life. Her friends are English, her whole frame of reference is English.
The whole debate over asylum and immigration has become stifling xenophobic and is fuelled by ignorance.