Would this solve the immigration problem?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/24/fewer -polish-migrants-coming-to-uk

We just need to re-introduce National Service now, and our immigration problem would be solved forthwith.

[paraffin]

I think there's a bit of "stirring" going on here!
Besides, why should our military get lumbered with dross?
I take it that you're suggesting that immigrants get bunged into the Forces for a couple of years? If so, that would be really wonderful when they were sent to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban (NOT!) "Oh look, there's my uncle Abdul aiming his AK47 at our convoy! Better let him blow us to smithereens so that I can have all those promised virgins in my next life!" It wouldn't work, trust me!

[rov1200]

I've never understood why the immigrants increase greatly from countries our soldiers are fighting. Why has the immigrant population from Afghanistan increased greatly, willing to endanger their lives by hiding in lorries, etc to get here? I agree with your suggestion regarding these Afghans as this may deter them.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes this was my idea, not just Afghans but all the others that come here for a free ride.

If they knew they could be called up to serve in the military, they might pick a country in which to settle, that doesn't have National Service.

It worked for Australia during the Vietnam war.

[Gromit]

Conscripted armies are next to useless. You may think it is a good idea, but the military would disagree with you. As has previouy been pointed out, their loyalties may be different than ours and why should they benefit from the skills and training which a career in the forces would offer them.

For the past 5 years you have been bleating on about eastern European immigrants, and for 5 years we have been telling you they only come because they are offered work. Now that the jobs are going, surprise surprise, the Poles are staying away.

[Gormless]

Polish immigrants tend to be white and nominally Christian, therefore low-risk. The real danger comes from Islam. Mind you, now that there are huge established breeding areas (Bradford, Leicester, most of London), the damage is already done. Woe to you if you are female or a homosexual, or a Jew, or a Christian, or white, or most other things come to think of it.

[gelda]

I think if they brought back national service most of the eligable would leave the country and hopefully it would stop any more coming in!

[Booldawg]

People come to this country for what it can offer them, simple as that. For the Polish it was a chance to earn high wages. Now jobs are harder to come by they'll simply stop coming here.

You have to question the motives of why everyone else is here. Cutting the benefits and awards given for sitting on your ar5e all day would make the UK less of an attractive destination for the rest.

[sp1814]

Question...why do people assume that immigrants come over here to sit around claiming benefits?

Is there figures to back this up or is this something the press have told us, and we're supposed to believe?

Let's say we have 8% unemployment amongst old Brits...what is the unemployment rate amongst new immigrants...and by that, I mean new legal immigrants.

Can't really count illegal immigrants because they can only work 'under the radar' providing us with cheap clothes from Primark, cheaply harvested fruit and vegetables, and seafood (best not to mention that though...it would skew the argument).

So...how do new migrants compare? Are they as bone idle as the Brits we see queueing up at the dole office, waiting to get the money they'll spend on 42" plasma tellies, X-Boxes and Sky boxes?

[123everton]

AOG you surprise me with your hostility to the Poles seeing as you're a war veteran.
The Poles were the first to bear arms against Hitler (they never stopped fighting), they fought for us in the skies above Britain, in the deserts of Egypt, on the beaches of Italy, they overwhelmed the redoubt in Monte Cassino (they even wrote a song about it "Polish Poppies on Monte Cassino" to honour their dead) they were with us at Arnhem and Normandy.
And yet you doubt their affection for Britain, shame on you.

[tamborine]

Gormless....the Islamists dont frighten me as have my dogs at the ready! Then will release the pigs in the mosques or their homes if they come near mine.

[puddicat]

Agree if thats ok!!

[fredpuli47]

If these immigrants are to be put in the army, they ought to be put into a new regiment or unit, like the Scots had regiments, and we put all Gurkhas together.How about that idea AOG.?Yes? How about you proposing a name for it (remembering that Black Watch has already been taken)

[socket2008]

Another Old Git - If you live up to your name, you will remember that one of the reasons National Service was stopped (1960) in the first place was because of the high costs involved.

Or can you see any government now, paying billions of pounds in salaries to the 2-3 million 18-20 year olds?

I'm sure if Harold Macmillan (Prime Minister at the time) were still alive, you and he would have an interesting chat about it all.

[kinell]

its just about (poor) job done for now,

having driven down wage levels for tradesmen the plumbers army have eventually got found out by the lack of quality of their work and people realise the hard way that you generally only get what you pay for.............

the most expensive is not necessarily the best,

the cheapest is never the best.

so off home it is for them to work on the projects funded by our net contributiions to the euro pot.

[R1Geezer]

Well I unusually I agree with Gromit Conscripted armies are kin useless, however if they thought they'd have to do military service then conscription plan would probably scare them off so it may have some small merit aog!

[buildersmate]

I think most of you chaps are forgetting that the 'immigration problem' (sic) people do not have, nor do intend to acquire British Nationality. They are resident here and, depending on their status, may be able to work here.
So conscription by the Queen is hardly an option.

[123everton]

On the flip side to the conscripted army's performance in battle, in the last Gulf war it was the conscripted units that put up anything resembling a fight as the Republican Guards knew they had no chance, they were well paid and had nice houses and money in the bank to see them through.

[Quinlad]

Maybe if those people who underwent National Service all those decades ago had spent less time marching up and down playing armies and more time learning vocational skills or getting a better education, they'd have gone onto greater professional success and they wouldn't be such a drain on society.

End of Devil's Advocate message.

[anotheoldgit]

Of all the present posts, I think it is only gelda that seems to have got the point.

123everton, I haven't any particular hostility towards the Poles, on the contrary I totally agree with you regarding their service during WW2, in particular the Polish pilots during the Battle of Britain.

I was mainly referring to all the Eastern Europeans that have flocked into the country, since they have been members of the EEC.

fredpuli47

Why did you pick out the Scots in particular? The Welsh had their own regiments, so did the Irish.

There would be no need to have a special regiment, there is enough separation in this country, we should try for more integration, and loyalty to Britain first and foremost.

socket2008

That was back in 1960, but since then we have become one of the top prosperous nations in the world. I know, I know we have recently took a tumble, but witnessing all the billions if no trillions that Brown has recently spread around, we are not doing too bad.

Anyway the bringing back of National service would to a certain extent be self financing. with some of the yobs off the streets there would be a reduction in crime, graffiti etc. And all the other spin off's that we would gain by having more disciplined groups of youngsters.

[anotheoldgit]

R1Geezer

<i.I agree with Gromit Conscripted armies are kin useless,

I wouldn't take too much notice of Gromit, Geezer he is not one of the sharpest knives in the box.

If he knew or had experienced anything to do with National Service he would know that these youngsters fought side by side with regular servicemen and did sterling service.

In Aden, Palestine, Suez, Kenya, Korea, Cyprus, Malaya, Borneo. in fact all conflicts all over the world.

It is interesting to note however,

Although there was no official ban, very few Black conscripts and no non-European officers were recruited despite high levels of immigration in the mid-1950s. To avoid possible civil unrest Northern Ireland was also excluded from conscription.

Taken from official sources.

Perhaps the beginning of the un-level playing field?