Successive British governments have been generous to an ever increasing number of immigrants choosing to make Britain their home. There are not that many places in the world where immigrants can end up receiving free health, education, housing and a passport not long after they arrive.
The influx of immigrants has resulted in UK tax-payers having to share the already limited resources of public services. In the fear of being called racist, they say nothing but grin and bear the increasing waiting time for hospital beds, social housing and a place in a local school for their children.
A gentleman I met recently said “Mr. Cameron’s government is lecturing its people to be hospitable and generous”. He continued by saying “Mr. Cameron would never share his house with strangers so what right does he have to force others to share their public services. It is not racist but just bloody unfair for the government to allow immigrants to receive benefits that they have not paid taxes for!”
The response of previous governments has been simple; they increase the expenditure on public services making the situation bearable. However, now that there is less money available – due to the economic crisis – it would not be difficult to for see that there could be increasing resentment and anger towards foreigners in the UK.
The majority of people enjoy and understand the benefits of living in a multicultural UK. However, the continuation of the current economic crisis could escalate racial tension to a level never seen before in the UK. In my opinion, it is now more important than ever for the British Government to allow people to freely discuss their resentment towards the government’s over – generosity to immigrants. As Shakespeare taught us in King Lear, punishing people for expressing their true opinion could end in disaster.
