plawolf
Lieutenant General
Actually I can see why it can get a little confusing to those who are not familiar with the UK and EU benefits system, which the article did not explain at all.
That article also should have also made it clear that Britain would need large, non-EU, non-refugee migrants to achieve its planned budget surplus.
Non-EU, non-refugee migrants are only allowed to come into the UK if they have a job, make a large enough investment in the UK, or are self funding for study etc. That is a big source of income for the government, and a big cash injection for the UK economy as a whole (which through the multiplier effect, generates even more economic activity, and produces even more taxes).
These migrants still have to pay most taxes (but can claim some back under some circumstances), just like everyone else. However, they get no social or medical benefits if they fall on hard times - the UK government will just show them the door to the nearest airport or port.
That is the UK getting a lot of tax payers (who are overwhelmingly wealthy and/or work in well paid jobs, which are usually taxed more and generally spend more than the national average) that they effectively don't have to spend any money on, since those people cannot claim any of the social or medical benefits which eat up the lion share of the UK government's budget.
They also cannot vote, and get little public sympathy from UK citizens, which is why the UK (and most other western) governments can get away with.
That article also should have also made it clear that Britain would need large, non-EU, non-refugee migrants to achieve its planned budget surplus.
Non-EU, non-refugee migrants are only allowed to come into the UK if they have a job, make a large enough investment in the UK, or are self funding for study etc. That is a big source of income for the government, and a big cash injection for the UK economy as a whole (which through the multiplier effect, generates even more economic activity, and produces even more taxes).
These migrants still have to pay most taxes (but can claim some back under some circumstances), just like everyone else. However, they get no social or medical benefits if they fall on hard times - the UK government will just show them the door to the nearest airport or port.
That is the UK getting a lot of tax payers (who are overwhelmingly wealthy and/or work in well paid jobs, which are usually taxed more and generally spend more than the national average) that they effectively don't have to spend any money on, since those people cannot claim any of the social or medical benefits which eat up the lion share of the UK government's budget.
They also cannot vote, and get little public sympathy from UK citizens, which is why the UK (and most other western) governments can get away with.
