Re: What's that sound ? Brexiteers expoding.
> I'm afraid I don't quite understand that line of reasoning - being a member of the EU does not stop the UK permitting immigration from the Commonwealth, or anywhere else, on whatever terms the UK wants. Or have I misunderstood you?
It is a lot easier for EU migrants to get a job and residency then non EU migrants. As an EU citizen they have a right to work and reside in the UK visa free. Indeed it cuts both ways, I can just pop down to Germany for a job, rent a place and reside there just as I would if I moved to another part of the UK (at least until Brexit).
Non EU migrants don't have this ability, so they are disadvantaged. Brexit will change that, and if it is a "hard Brexit", then EU migrants would have to jump through the same hoops as the rest of the world to go to the UK, and most would probably not bother and just find work in Germany or another EU country.
> I am a non-white Leaver. I and many like me voted specifically to leave the whites-only immigration club and open up immigration to fellow Commonwealth people.
This is actually a very common thing in my experience. Pretty much every Asian family I know are hard core Brexiteers, and as one of them explained to me, they have no connection with Europe, no cultural or other ties at all, and are more than happy to replace the EU with a freer trade/immigration agreement with the commonwealth, who speak English, have familiar legal structure, and for which they have cultural, family and other ties with.
They felt this was not possible to have while in the EU, because of EU agreements preferring EU immigration (I don't know if this is true, but it is what they believe).
Interestingly, from my experience, it seems Brexit voters are divided into 3 main (mutually incompatible) groups:
1. The "bring back our sovereignty" group, rallied against the EC Bureaucracy, the EU's perceived undemocratic nature, having laws written by others, etc.... Against the Political EU side of things (i.e. forming a United states of Europe), but happy with a free trade/movement of people agreement across the continent, and continued cooperation. "Keep it strictly business" type of idea, and generally favour "soft Brexit".
2. The "Immigrants out" voters, for whom immigration was the only reason to get out of the EU, with the goal that out of the EU, the borders will be under UK control (and therefore locked down), all the immigrants will be kicked out and there will be more jobs for British people. Pushing for "hard Brexit".
3. Commonwealth immigrants, who voted Brexit with the idea that it would increase immigration from their home countries, as Europeans stop migrating to the UK (or start leaving), freeing up positions for them. Generally for "hard Brexit", but happy for any agreement that benefits non EU immigration.
Before Brexit the above three were united in a common goal, but once they have achieved it, I suspect they will fall out quite badly, as their three visions for the UK cannot be reconciled together. Group (2) I suspect will be the most disappointed, as leaving the EU most likely won't result in less migrants, just less European migrants.
Seeing as non EU migrants will generally be cheaper than EU migrants, I think the UK may well see a marked increase of immigration after Brexit, in an attempt to stall any economic recession by driving down wages (and therefore business costs) to make the UK more globally competitive.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
