British families should be first in the housing queue not immigrants

[AB Asks]

Labour minister Margaret Hodge says British families should be given council housing ahead of immigrants. She said it was unfair that new arrivals jumped to front of the queue leaving no homes for British families. Hodge caused controversy last year by saying that Labour had failed to deal with immigration or provide affordable housing which in turn prompted the traditional-working class voters to move to BNP. What do you think? Are Hodge's claims true?

[gina32]

well said britain is for the british. why should we have to wait around for a housing just because someone has decided that they dont want to live in their own country for whatever reason. the sooner they get immigration sorted out the better

[jake-the-peg]

Margaret Hodge seems a bit obsessed about the BNP

Here from last year http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4974870 .stm

Here from 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_20 05/frontpage/4519347.stm

But then her seat is in Barking where the BNP have made gains.

However setting National policy based on what is happening in Barking is not good politics

[Goodsoulette]

Self serving proposal to get herself more votes. Round here we dont have many immigrants so they use fox hunting to decide who is gonna get the seat. Its pathetic.


You have to assume that those immigrants who are entitled to social housing were accepted to live in this country for a good reason. Ridiculous, if I was on the council list waiting for house whilst staying at my mums I would respect a decision that there might be those more in need than me, even if they werent born in this country.

[netibiza]

Totally agree, over here the nationals always come first, then those born in Spain and latterly us, the reprobates.

[Supernick]

If you're accepted into this country then you should have the same rights as everyone else. I see no reason why this can't be a process based on need, and entirely blind to your origin of birth.

[sp1814]

Blimey

Labour politicians tailoring policies to appeal to BNP voters and Tory politicians dropping their backing for grammar schools.

"I don't think we're in Kansas any more Toto..."

[Goodsoulette]

How far back do we have to be able to trace our Britishness to be classified as top of the list for a council house?

[kwicky]

About time too! While there at it apply the same rules to hospital waiting lists. Some of us have paid into a National Insurance scheme only to find the kitty is bare except that is for non contributory foreigners. It summed it all up to me when they interviewed that Polish immigrant on TV the other day. She said the UK is awash with gypsies and they advised her where to go to get the free handouts.

[bigmalc]

Why should the provision of council housing be based upon nationality at all?

Surely the system is set up in order to provide for those whose need is greatest? It should be irrelevant where someone is from. Those who are homeless are all in the same boat together. It is not for Margaret Hodge nor any of us to decide whether someone should be given a house based solely upon where they are from. To do so is to segregate.

It makes me shudder to hear things referred to in such terms. It sounds eerily like the bad old days of South Africa and the Deep South of America.

[sp1814]

kwicky

Using that logic then, as I've been in full employment since leaving school after my A Levels, I would always be able to queue jump ahead of (say) children with leukemia, just because their parents may have been long term unemployed.

In fact, we would all have to wait behind the elderly who have probably paid more in NI contributions than the rest of us.

Is this something you'd support?

[Reverandfunk]

Spot on Kwicky.

I lived in Spain for 6 months and if I wanted the Dr I went and I paid. If I needed the dentist I paid. About time we stopped being an easy touch.

[sp1814]

Reverandfunk

How long ago was that?

As long as your a member of a EU country, aren't you guaranteed free medical treatment???

[Reverandfunk]

2 years, I know your E111 will cover you for a lot but turn up at the local dentists at 8pm with toothache and see if he will accept your E111. Like the time a man collapsed and died in one of the cabaret clubs. Ambulance took an hour to arrive and he had sadly died by then. The ambulance men left his body and his family had to carry his body back to their apartment. We are meant to get like for like but you try and get it.

[bigmalc]

Hang on a minute Reverendfunk. The state of dentistry in Britain at the moment is appalling! I doubt very much whether the Spanish system is that much worse.

[sandbach99]

If I decide to go and live in another area of Britain I would not be entitled to a council house as I have made myself homeless, therefore why should an economic migrant be given a council house as they have made themselves homeless by coming to Britain.

An asylem should be placed in bed and breakfast or hostel accommodation until their case is decided. If allowed to stay they should be given the same rights as anyone else, and given accommodation suitable to their needs and not a large house suitable for the extended family they will now bring over .

[Reverandfunk]

Nothin wron with any element of Spanish healtcare (apart from the ambulance) my point being show them your money and then you get treated.

[sp1814]

Reverandfunk

But the principle (of like for like treatment) is there, isn't it?
Also, if the bloke collapsed and died in a club, the amount of time an ambulance took to get to him is pretty much irrelevent. I'm not trying to be facetious (even if I could spell it properly)

[bigmalc]

This has gone waaay off track!

The original question concerned the allocation of council houses. I just don't see why someone has more of a right to a council house than someone else based simply on their nationality. And what's all this 'Britain for the British' nonsense? If someone is resident here and is trying to make a life for themselves, why do we persist in exluding them and making them feel unwelcome? Do we no longer see refugees and immigrants (for they are indeed TWO SEPARATE THINGS!) as humans? Are we really so superior that we deserve everything first simply because we were born here? I don't think so.

[Reverandfunk]

I was using Spain as an example of when you go to another country what things are like there and yes I could get treated if I paid for it and would the Spanish govt give me benefits and housing? No and rightly so.

If I go to Hungary tomorrow or Croatia etc etc and asked for asylum would I get free housing, free money and free healthcare at the drop of a hat? yeah right. People only come here because we are a soft touch. If these people really were asylum seekers why travel halfway accross Europe? Surely you would stop in the first "safe" country?

[bigmalc]

I think that Britain has a proud and honourable tradition of helping those who need shelter. That should not change simply because the Daily Mail has an agenda.

It's fine for you to sit in your armchair and blast asylum seekers but until you realise the horror and fear of a life lived on the run from persecution, perhaps you should be less judgemental.

I'm pretty sure that if I was living in fear for my life and those of my family, I would run as far away as I could. I see the fact that people run to Britain as a badge of honour. That we can provide a safe haven for those who need it most is a reminder of what is best about our society.

The strong have a duty to help the weak