Immigration is a major issue in the EU Referendum Campaign: Let us remember the EU is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

First some facts

Immigration 

In 2011, there were 7.5 million foreign-born residents in the UK, corresponding to 11.9 per cent of the total population.  A 2010 estimate shows that 4.76 million (7.7 per cent) were born outside the EU and 2.24 million (3.6 per cent) were born in another EU member state. (source : wikipedia)

Emigration

A spokesperson from the Migration Observatory, told the More or Less programme on Radio 4, that  1.2 million UK born people live elsewhere in the EU.  So, as far EU citizens are concerned there is net immigration to the UK.  This is not the whole picture.  5 million British citizens leave elsewhere in non EU states such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.  

So, 7.5 million came in and 6.2 million went out.  Thus we have approximately 1.3 million extra people.  What is the problem?  

Few of us are openly racist, many of us are interested in other cultures and languages but many of us are also concerned by over crowding and some feel there are too many people here competing for over stretched public services and the infrastructure.  Perhaps the answer is to improve these to meet the demand and keep the economy going.  On the other hand, the Leave Campaign would have us believe that leaving the EU will 'give us back control of our borders'.   Actually it might not.  More of this in a minute, let's first examine if these 1.3 million extra people are a cause for concern.  

But first note that British people are the EU's biggest beneficiaries of the right to settle anywhere in the EU, more British people live in other EU countries than any other nationality! And there are nearly as many Brits living elsewhere in the EU as there are other EU nationals in Britain.  Only 3.6% of the UK population is from another EU country. Most migration in the UK is from outside the EU, which means freedom of movement rules don’t apply and it’s completely up to the British government how to manage this migration.  Nearly half of the immigrants moving to the UK in 2013 were non-EU nationals.  

EU migrants are net contributors to the economy. Between 2001 and 2011, they contributed 34% more in taxes than they took out in benefits and services. Compared to the UK average, EU migrants are more highly educated, more likely to be employed, and much less likely to claim benefits.  13% of working age British claim benefits as opposed to 5% of EU migrants.   The latter paid in via taxes about 30% more than they cost our public services.

 

In a major economic modelling exercise involving nine different post Brexit policy scenarios, Oxford Economics said that in its best case scenario the UK’s GDP would be just 0.1 per cent lower by 2030 and income per head of population could actually rise by £40. But that benign outcome would only be achieved if the Government did not cut European Union net migration substantially.   It would also be dependent on ministers signing a trade deal with the EU severely limiting the UK’s ability to make its own bilateral trade deals with other non-European countries. Britain would also have to continue to make contributions to the EU’s budget.  “The long-term impact of Brexit need not be severe. But benign scenarios involve retaining aspects of EU membership: continued high immigration, restrictions on our ability to make trade deals with non-EU countries and continuing to pay money to Brussels,” said Henry Worthington of Oxford Economics.

In other words, something is being made into a problem when it isn't one.  In my view it presents a simplistic argument which appeals to the not so nice side of human nature.  But that is just an opinion. 

True, this is just the economic aspect of immigration.  Perhaps Brexit would make worse the threat to the UK from terrorism? Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6 believes that Brexit would allow the UK “greater control over immigration from the EU”.  But how significant are migrants from Europe to the terrorist threat in or against the UK?  During Mr Dearlove's stance as head of MI6 from 1999 until 2004, the flow of extremism was more from the UK to the EU than vice versa. 

The modern day threats to Britain's security are global in nature.  Being in Europe, working with our closest neighbours and partners to tackle these threats, makes Britain safer.   The European Arrest Warrant means terrorism suspects can be easily extradited from EU countries back to the UK.  

Europol is the EU’s crime-fighting body and helps British police exchange crucial information and coordinate investigations.  Hussein Osman, a terrorist involved in the attempted bomb attack on London in July 2005, is one of over 400 criminals who have been returned to face justice in Britain under the European Arrest Warrant after fleeing to Europe.  

Sharing  intelligence about terrorists and arresting them using the European Arrest Warrant are examples of this.  Leaving Europe would threaten our safety. We are stronger and more secure as part of Europe than on our own.  

It is no coincidence that there has been peace and cooperation in Europe ever since the first faltering steps were taken which ultimately gave birth to the EU.  The EU is a concept which binds us together and smooths out conflict.  As someone whose parents were deeply affected in many ways by the brutality of the Second World War, to me this is the most important case for remaining in the EU, 'warts and all'.  My father bailed out of a disabled air craft and has the silken thread of a parachute to thank for his remaining forty six years.  Two of these were spent as a prisoner in Germany, an experience which changed him fundamentally.  Unimaginable in this day and age, but it could happen again if the continent were destabilised.  

After the war, European integration was seen as an antidote to the extreme nationalism which had devastated the continent.  The 1948 Hague Congress was a pivotal moment in European history, as it led to the creation of the European Movement International and of the College of Europe, where Europe's future leaders would live and study together.  In 1957, The Treaty of Rome was signed by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.  This created the European Economic Community, which was transformed in the European Union by the Maastricht Treaty of 1993.  Since then the membership has grown and now consists of twenty eight nations.  

In 2012, the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for having "contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe."