European Union Forums

[Big_Becka]

Britain operates a points based system for granting citizenship to immigrant workers. Today it was reported that this will be extended to assess whether the candidate has "British Values." It has been suggested that points will be deducted from candidates who have taken part in anti-war demonstrations. Points may be awarded to those who join a Trade Union or canvass for a political party.

The news report on Channel 4 news interviewed a representative from the Home Office who referred to "bad behaviour" being penalised. He stated that we have to tolerate those born in the UK who "misbehave," but we shouldn't encourage it in immigrants.

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/p ... ed/3293152
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8180749.stm

Is this how "British Values" are perceived?

My feelings are that this is idiotic.

Trade Union membership has decreased over the years because the Government has reduced the power they have. There are also reports of a 'Trade Union Blacklist' which some companies use to discriminate against potential employees. If the Home Office now consider Union membership to be a good thing, the government must back this up!

Electoral turn-out is also at a low, due to a combination of voter apathy and protest votes. The political parties at best all have similarly non-commital policies, and at worst our politicians are selfish, out-of-touch, corrupt, lying fraudsters. There has been a rise in support for extremist groups like the British Nationalist Party. Why should an immigrant be expected to contribute to politics when most British people reject politics?

And as for protesting WE HAVE A RIGHT TO NON-VIOLENT PROTEST IN OUR "FREE" AND "DEMOCRATIC" SOCIETY The day that we start to refer to protesting as "misbehaving" is the day that freedom becomes eroded. The protestors are the ones who display good British values, not the soldiers who tortured people in Iraq and periodically kill new recruits with their bizarre bullying initiation rituals I feel some sympathy for the people who join the army to get some training or pay their university tuition fees, or because they believe they are helping the world. But these same people need to be told that some of the actions they are guilty of are unpalatable and unacceptable to the British public.

We are NOT a nation that condones torture and gags those who speak out against it - and we should not become one either!

[Kusnetsov]

and at worst our politicians are selfish, out-of-touch, corrupt, lying fraudsters. There has been a rise in support for extremist groups like the British Nationalist Party.

The way you describe your politicians reminds me of our ones (I mean the Ukrainian politicians). But actually I don't believe they're much alike meaning the absolute absence of any policy (inner one especially) in Ukraine. Though there's no secret Policy is the same old shit all over the world.

P.S. Keep on. It's interesting for me for I studied British history, literature and language at the university.

[55° N - 13° E]

.... points will be deducted from candidates who have taken part in anti-war demonstrations.

This CANNOT be true! Can it?