Population Growth and the Lessons we could have learnt. Just over two hundred years ago in 1810 the population of the UK stood at 18 million. Forty years later the number had grown to 27 million and with it a rapid change in living styles and standards for the majority. London had increased by nearly one hundred per cent to 2.5 million whilst 300,000 had taken the decision to emigrate to the four corners of the empire. Over half the population lived in towns and cities as employment in rural areas had severely declined and it was reluctantly the choice of so many to work in factories as a means of securing regular work. Of course with all this activity came the realisation of poverty and starvation. Poverty had been recognised and accommodated from medieval times with the Poor Laws that were amended in 1815 with a piece of very hotly contested legislation intended to limit the increasing demands on taxpayers money to support a growing population unable to work through ill health , old age or unemployment. It was the start of the Workhouse where so many unfortunates would end up with little chance of escape and it was to be used as a disincentive to the poor becoming even poorer. Now I’m sure no one would advocate a return to those bad old days but it shows us that the many problems we have today originated some long time ago. Even in 1905 when a pension was introduced, to assist men over the age of 65, it was the start of what we now call the Welfare State. That help was of limited assistance as most men of low incomes were long dead before they reached that age. As we consider the explosion in the population in the last ten years we can see similar problems arising in the shape of housing, education, healthcare and even the daily business of travelling around, when the provision of new housing estates begin to dominate our tranquil towns and villages, simply to accommodate the increasing numbers. But where will all those jobs come from let alone the vast sums of money that will be required for development with the associated infrastructure that must accompany it? Surely now is the time to establish what we consider to be a saturation level for these Isles. It is not beyond the wit of our town planners and politicians to make suggestions for Parliament to decide upon. What we can’t have is a repeat of the last decade when for political purposes alone the doors were opened to uncontrolled numbers coming here without jobs or the prospects of having accommodation and the means to support themselves. We have become aware of the deliberate and blatant betrayal of those already here that will have long term changes on the demographics of these islands for generations to come. We have always encouraged skilled labour to come and work with us. Many of our stately homes and palaces would not have been built to such exacting and high standards if it were not for foreign tradesmen coming here from across Europe. We live and co-operate with our neighbours out of economic and social expediency so nothing is new in that regard. What we must not continue to do is encourage everyone from across the globe to seek refuge in the UK simply because we have become known as a soft touch. If our national debt did not stand at £1.5 trillion or that we constantly have to borrow over 10% of our annual income just to keep going perhaps our situation would not be so serious. As it is we have encouraged vast numbers of lowly paid people to come here and settle and take jobs that require state benefits to bring their incomes up to a living wage. Just as in 1815 the taxpayers were starting to resent the level of taxation going to feed the poor so we had better be aware of a similar reaction from those who see themselves as the rightful occupants of these Isles being squeezed out by those from foreign lands, who unlike those tradesmen of old, do not bring much benefit, nevertheless expect to share in our collective wealth. Only fools expect to repeat their mistakes whilst hoping for a different result.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:32:52 +0000
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