I celebrated a birthday this week. And events like this often make us reflective, they make us pause for thought.
But amidst all the celebrations, I found myself grappling with a few thoughts that have been causing me considerable anxiety about the future of our country.
For the first time, I asked myself a question I suspect many of you are asking too: Why exactly am I working so hard in this country? What’s the point?
Why am I, and millions of other hard-working British people, setting alarms, getting up, going to work, paying taxes, contributing to the economy, and supporting our country, while being forced to fund a social contract that, frankly, is now completely broken?
Why, for example, am I paying for people who aren’t even British to claim welfare?
Around £10billion a year goes on welfare benefits for non-British residents. And why am I subsidising millions of others on welfare many of whom, about four million, have no requirement to look for work?
Why should the hard-working majority foot the bill for a social contract that shows no interest in supporting those who get up every day and do the right thing?
Recent reports from the Migration Advisory Committee, released this week, reveal some shocking findings.
Matthew Goodwin reflected on the year as he celebrated his birthday this week
|
Matthew Goodwin
Remember when anyone who questioned the consensus that immigration is good for the economy was labelled far-right or irresponsible, accused of spreading misinformation?
Well, according to the Government’s own advisers, this week that idea has been blown apart. The figures are damning.
They show that the relatives of migrant workers, many of whom arrived during the post-2021 Boris wave, are costing the British state—and British taxpayers, nearly £6billion over their lifetimes. That’s roughly £109,000 per person.
To put that into perspective: the average British person contributes about £110,000 to the economy over their lifetime, while the relatives of migrant workers take nearly the same amount out.
Rachel Reeves delivered the Budget in the Commons last month | PA
That money could fund six new hospitals or pay the annual salaries of around 100,000 NHS nurses.
Who voted for this? I certainly didn’t. Did you?
It’s not unreasonable to expect that the hard-working majority in this country should be able to get out of bed, go to work, pay their taxes, and not be forced to bankroll those who refuse to work or those entering the country through open borders while breaking our laws.
And in the recent budget, Rachel Reeves and the Labour Government announced nearly £30billion in tax increases to cover a massive welfare splurge, including £12billion in additional spending on benefits.
I fear that under this Government, the hard-working majority is becoming second-class citizens in their own country.
And I know there are many across the country who share this sense of unfairness.
The question is: how do we break this cycle? How do we reform the social contract so that it actually works for the people who are keeping our country moving?
