Forum Topic

La Suisse -Douze points

How refreshing that Switzerland has voted to reject the removal of freedom of movement within  the EU as they realise that it takes away their freedom of movement and they’re not even members.  It’s almost as if they knew they were on to a good thing.

Stewart Jones ● 2224d6 Comments

Yes Stewart, I'm pleased they turned their back on the right wing proposal. I was pleasantly surprised.

Basil Finnis ● 2224d

As an independent nation, Switzerland has complete control of its own borders, incl over immigration.Meanwhile, Immigrants comprised 29.9% of the population in 2015 (latest figures I can find in a hurry):https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/CHE/switzerland/immigration-statisticsAssuming the steadily rising trend over the previous three decades has continued since, then the present figure must be approaching one third of the entire population."Take Back Control!"

Richard Cathcart ● 2224d

They voted convincingly to keep their borders open so they well and truly have taken control democratically.They probably see the benefits and don't have an innate hatred of immigrants that exists and has been stirred up by cuddly Uncle Nigel and his blackshirts.

Craig David Mcdowell ● 2224d

It must be more difficult for a country  like Switzerland. Land locked by EU countries. Not like here where our immigration is from all over the world.

Paul Jennings ● 2224d

PJ: "It must be more difficult for a country  like Switzerland. Land locked by EU countries"More difficult perhaps for controlling illegal immigrants, but these only comprise a tiny proportion of total immigration, whether to Switzerland or UK.Meanwhile those figures I quoted were for legal immigrants who came by established routes. And a border is a border with the normal border checks, whether these be at eg the Simplon Tunnel or the Channel Tunnel, Zurich Airport or Heathrow.And for legal immigrants to Switzerland, of course the majority are from neighbouring EU countres, just like there are any number of EU immigrants here (Irish, French, Poles, Greeks, Italians, Romanians etc).But Switzerland also has large numbers eg of Serbs, Albanians, Kosovans, Turks and Kurds etc i.e. legal immigrants from non-EU countries without a shared land border.And such people are mostly doing the jobs that wealthy natives prefer not to do - just like in the UK, the difference being that the Swiss mostly appear to appreciate such people, unlike many Britons.

Richard Cathcart ● 2224d

That is bizarre thinking. So the Syrians who (having been bombed out of their own country) attempt to cross the channel to reach the UK travelled via...? Oh, that would be through Europe. The only way one might think that the UK is more susceptible to illegal immigration than, say, Switzerland is if you are convinced that the UK is uniquely vulnerable. Which it is not. So I truly do not understand your point about immigrants coming to the UK from all over the world but not doing the same with Switzerland.

Alan Clark ● 2224d