Flintoff's bizzare anti immigration rant

[Furball]

I will say though, that I live in an area that probably has a higher white British % than most parts of the country - which jobs are these you're talking about, out of interest? You're obviously in the know for this sort of thing, given your line of work (when you're not pulling a sickie, obv)

I worked in a major hotel in Glasgow for two years. Virtually the entire housekeeping department were Polish, with one or two native Scots, and a few who would have been of African origin.

The bar I work in just now is one of Glasgow's biggest, and all our glass collectors and stock people are either Polish or Indian.

I would imagine that it would be similar in most big cities in the UK.

 

[Furball]

Honestly I don't think the UK is successful as a multicultural society, how many Asians hang around with white friends as adults and vice versa? The same goes with basically any ethnicity. It makes me feel very priviliged to have friends from all races and backgrounds.

My secondary school was mixed 50/50 between whites and those of subcontinental origin, the vast majority of whom were of Pakistani descent.

We had a decent social group in 5th and 6th year that was mixed, we'd do stuff after school, play 5s at weekends and stuff like that, but as you move onto Uni, it's easy to lose track of your friends, particularly with the whole drinking/nights culture that goes with being a student at University. I gradually lost touch with a few of the Muslim boys because of it, because they weren't comfortable coming out with us when we'd look to get as drunk as possible for £20. I don't blame them for it at all, but it is a shame.

 

[rivera213]

In that case it should be made a requirement/pre-requisites by the government before they issue a work visa (assuming that the person working is there so legally)

Yes it should.

Don't get me started on government and immigration policies. Lol

take your rational thoughts elsewhere Uppercut - today's it's hotel receptionists, tomorrow he's wearing his KKK outfit for the Ashes team photo

I think the timing of the publication of the comments is extremely unfortunate, coming as it has just before the Euro Parliament elections, where the BNP & UKIP stand to make serious gains.

1- What does expressing a view about someone who cannot speak the language of the country they live and work in have to do with a racist political party? Are you not allowed to express an opinion (in this case a very valid one) at all nowadays if it is considered bordering on politically incorrect?

2- How are UKIP suddenly thrown in with BNP? Lol

I think anyone who spends any time in our capital knows that London's service industry runs on immigrant labour; they gamely perform all the hard, dirty, menial jobs the natives won't touch.

Not entirely true.

It's true London companies have a number of foreigners doing the ****ty jobs, but as well as that, companies hire foreigners (particularly from Poland, Romania and Albania) and pay them less than what a qualified British worker would be allowed (and almost obliged) to get. If anyone thinks the eastern european workers are there because no-one else is are naive- they are there instead of British workers because they are cheaper.

I don't have a problem with this, though the portrayal of eastern European workers as life savers and the foundation of industry is completely incorrect.

* I know this from friends who work in, and own companies spaning the plumbing, construction, painting/decorating, carpentry and electrical trades.

I know, how embarrassing would that be?

Ha ha.

That was top notch.

Tek a boo son.

My secondary school was mixed 50/50 between whites and those of subcontinental origin, the vast majority of whom were of Pakistani descent.

Being in south east London (Lewisham) we had a number of foreigners at both my primary and secondary schools.

It sucks we didn't have a secondary school cricket team since we had (along with the English players), 2 Jamaicans, 3 Indians, 2 Pakistanis and 1 Sri Lankan.

We would've pwned every other team. Lol

 

[Jamee999]

That is sugar coating (infact misquoting) what he said. IMO what he said worse is than saying ""British jobs for British workers.", I have no problem with that, every country in the world has the right to serve its own citizens first only then they can look to serve/help others. While it may be protectionism, IMO It is the right thing. In a multicultural society, Language is the almost always the first level of acceptance. If you can not even accept that then what kind of multicultural level are we talking about here ?

You don't think that someone working in a service industry in an English-speaking country needs to be able to speak English? We're not dealing with what language they are speaking at home, with their family, or with friends, but in a job where they have to directly speak and communicate with an English-speaking public.

Whether or not the workers Flintoff was dealing could actually speak English, or just had trouble with his accent, is another matter, however.

I'm also pretty sure that a British jobs for British workers official policy would be illegal under EU law, but I'm not 100% on that.

 

[Matt79]

Jamee's effort was top drawer.

 

[Top_Cat]

The mocking of Scots in this thread is offensive to me. But at least they're not as incomprehensible as the damn Irish.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Flintoff is an illiterate Idiot,he continues to prove that with his actions and words. Good that they took away England's captaincy from him. He doesn't know what multicultural society means.

Who would have thought you'd turn up in here Sanz.

 

[Son Of Coco]

take your rational thoughts elsewhere Uppercut - today's it's hotel receptionists, tomorrow he's wearing his KKK outfit for the Ashes team photo

 

[Son Of Coco]

I dinnae ken wha ya takkin' boot laddie.

Geez a swatch a ya fannie.

 

[Richard]

It's Neil Fairbrother who has got questions to answer - what the hell is he doing allowing that to happen?

Ind33d.

Piers Morgan... FFS.

 

[Uppercut]

1- What does expressing a view about someone who cannot speak the language of the country they live and work in have to do with a racist political party? Are you not allowed to express an opinion (in this case a very valid one) at all nowadays if it is considered bordering on politically incorrect?

2- How are UKIP suddenly thrown in with BNP? Lol

1. Because it could inspire people to vote for the racist mob.

2. Don't tell me you're a UKIP supporter...

 

[Furball]

Geez a swatch a ya fannie.

Gonnae no dae that?

 

[zaremba]

2. Don't tell me you're a UKIP supporter...

Without wishing to become too deeply embroiled in a political debate, David Cameron's pithy description of UKIP supporters in 2006 did hit the nail on the head: "a bunch of ... fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists, mostly."

 

[Manee]

Although that is not what I believe they stand for, that does sum up their membership well.

 

[RhyZa]

I'm appreciative living in Toronto that we truly our multicultural. I'm not saying we're perfect but it is perfectly normal to see a Chinese, black, white and Indian within the same group of friends. That is true though, whoever said it, that as you grow older there seems to be a little bit more segregation.

I have no problem with people having trouble speaking English, it's such a minor inconvenience in my mind, and I know that some of these people are quite smart it's just the accent that is different. Heck, I find it fun to try and master interpreting different accents, whether it be English, Indian, Patois etc. what a boring world if everyone spoke the same.

 

[Goughy]

1. Because it could inspire people to vote for the racist mob.

2. Don't tell me you're a UKIP supporter...

Without wishing to become too deeply embroiled in a political debate, David Cameron's pithy description of UKIP supporters in 2006 did hit the nail on the head: "a bunch of ... fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists, mostly."

I read a comment today that I’m sure has been used (in one form or another) on many occasions.

This time it was regarding the right-wing Israeli settlers that protested outside the US Embassy.

"One of the most dangerous consequences of weak leadership is that extremist fringe groups seek to fill the vacuum.”

This is a situation that exists in the UK. There has been a government that has not allowed a free and frank discourse on issues such as immigration, the welfare state, EU etc. There has been a lack of substance and leadership on these issues.

The obvious and unfortunate consequence has been the rise of extremist and one-issue parties.

By all means hate what the BNP etc stand for, but understand that their popularity is a symptom of a greater malaise. It isn’t enough to defeat the party. What is required is to change the environment that fostered their growth and relevance.

 

[Mahindinho]

EXCELLENT post, Oitoitoi!

I've had similar experiences and, without knowing anything about you except that post, I think I'm in a pretty similar boat.

For once, I'm in complete agreement with Scaly, too.

I've not got the time to collate my thoughts and write a proper email on the matters discussed, unfortunately. Hopefully later!

I think Freddie's comments are unfortunate. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, esp. with that "rap music" comment, which I think was probably something of a misquote -- he may not have meant that completely seriously, in the same way that, when I know I'm not quite nailing my thoughts on something, I'll say something that's close enough and shrug meaningfully. Unfortunately shrugs, meaningful or otherwise, don't come across well in print.

Spending what seems like an eternity on the phone to Sky Broadband over the last few weeks has just reinforced my hatred of Indian call centres. Despite 14 years in the grim and frozen North, I still have a generic home counties accent, not particularly strong in any direction, and probably as close to "standard" English as you're going to get. Yet I still have difficulty getting my point across to people who are clearly employed to give standard answers to standard questions.

I wouldn't mind so much if only they could get my name right -- I can understand most Geordies/Scots/whatever having trouble with "Mahinda", but surely the average resident of Bangalore would have come across the name, or a variant of it?!

 

[biased indian]

I dinnae ken wha ya takkin' boot laddie.

Global Moderator please use English only

 

[honestbharani]

Haha, and what more have you proved there? That article is even worse, I am sure Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara are just FURIOUS with his comments. And so he thinks Britain is in better shape than India? Look, I've never been to India, so I wouldn't know, but is he not entitled to such an opinion?

Honestly Sanz, the whole "Freddie can do no wrong" thing won't work either. When he ****ed up in the WC I called him on it. There were good posters like pasag defending him, and I was slamming him. I'd defend Ricky Ponting or Graeme Smith if they were slammed for these comments as well.

Hey ho, whatever. I could keep arguing with you, but the rest of the forum are gonna wonder why I am replying to myself seems as they all have you on ignore...can't imagine why

stupid comment there.. I don't have him on ignore and I know plenty who don't as well.. I have seen them replying to him and quoting him.


Very much unlike you, GIMH...

 

[biased indian]

there could be a reason for hotel employing some one who dont know english...its could not only be cheep labour espicially if he is attending calls from outside...and considering the fact that the hotel could be a well know one