Research due to be publicized shortly shows that immigrants into the UK are less likely to take advantage of hospitals, social housing and unemplyment benefit than people born in Britain. This explodes the idea that immigrants migrate for handouts. Already, the UK’s level of spending on unemployment benefits is the third lowest out of 19 countries (Italy and Slovakia spending less). (Dr. Martin Kahanec, Central European University, led the study into the effect of changes in unemployment benefit and migration. reported in The Guardian Weekly 05.04.13).

Pandering to prejudice is the thing the conservative government does best. What it does worst is manage a welfare state that offers a safety net to the least fortunate. It is a government composed of young kids, just out if university, who have no experience and are learning on the job.

There is great resentment and unease in the UK about immigration, shared by many people of impeccable liberal views. Some countries are lousily run by corrupt incompetents who cannot govern their own people fairly and decently (sound familiar?) Their subjects leave in despair for better opportunities. What we should be doing is to pressure these countries to develop their economies and discover governance. But we shouldn’t target the migrants using untruths.

Epicureans should welcome immigration in moderate numbers, especially when it brings with it hard-working, educated people who will help to make life better.