LBC caller argues with Matthew Wright about 'overpopulated' Britain

Is the UK overpopulated? That's the 'scientific' argument that LBC caller Chris makes.

He calls Matthew Wright to explain why he thinks the Conservatives can only 'mitigate' the degree of defeat at the next election. He cites failures on immigration for his disappointment in the government, which he insists has led to the country becoming 'overpopulated.' Matthew has some stats on hand to challenge that assertion. Who do you agree with?

#matthewwright #ukpolitics #LBC

LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK.

[JohnSmall]

The problem isn't lack of land, money, resources, the problem is that we've giving control over land, money and resources to a bunch of psychopaths who have zero interest in helping ordinary people.

[RoofLight]

Fun fact. Over 50% of all the land in the UK is owned by less than 1% of the population.

[gregsmith]

What he's trying to say Mathew, is that the infrastructure is failing to cope with the population. Not enough roads, not enough doctors, not enough houses, not enough schools etc.

[lucasmoreno]

If Matthew Wright challenged a Pro Israel caller the way he has this man, he'd be sitting next to Sangita.
He recently let a Pro Israel guest lie without interruption.

[SangitaSucked]

Over 72% of UK land is used for agriculture and we are still not able to be be self sufficient with the current population so I would say we are indeed overpopulated as without access to food sources from abroad we would not manage now.

[mancj]

Matthew "Give me an answer then" then proceeds to wait 12 whole seconds and interrupts the caller yet again.

Country isn't over populated from a landmass to person ratio but it is from a system point of view.
NHS, Police, Prisons, Housing, School placements and in some areas employment opportunities are all areas that can't cope with how many people use those services atm.

They need more investment but as a country we are apparently skint.

Be nice to have a government budget one year that doesn't use the words government borrowing all the time.

But I digress.

[ffviifakeremake]

The UK is turning into an open sewer, so many coming to the UK.

[yamyam]

Let Matthew Wright come back to us in 10-15 years time, see if his views are the same .

[rodterry]

The guy might be wrong but you talk over him to a *shocking* degree. I'm not at all surprised that he shouted his request to be able to speak! Is this a new section: Phone in and Listen to Matthew Talk?!?!

[jasonvancleve]

Okay, that caller had a valid point, and Wright obviously spared no effort to confuse and ignore it. What's his agenda?

[howardvarley]

If Matthew can’t SEE the country, the roads, the hospitals etc are overcrowded he needs re educating.

[brianferguson]

FACT, less than 9% of all the land in the United Kingdom is actually built on, and that includes roads and railways.

[katarinam]

Wish Matthew wouldnt interrupt that man, bad manners

[SamuelParish]

We are overpopulated in the sense that there's nowhere near enough housing....thanks to the Tories 🖕

[AD-ceol]

It’s not overpopulation. It’s years and years of public spending cuts and austerity. This has put strain on all sectors of society except the rich.

Politicians use the immigration card to win voters but never stop immigration. Healthy immigration is needed in any nation. To pull in needed skill workers and brain drain rival nations.

But immigration becomes a problem when the government fails to deliver the necessary funds to develop infrastructure for the growing population and coming immigrants.

Quite simply, it’s supply and demand. Years of government spending cuts plus continuous immigration leads to increased demand for public services and less and less supply of those services.

The problem isn’t the immigrants, it’s the politicians.

[minorthreatrecordings]

He needs to get out more and a bit further

[SamLowryDZ-]

I'll wager the caller, like many who make the same arguments, are quite happy to drive Japanese or German cars, wear Nike, Next, Gap Fruit of Loom and eat burgers pizza and deep fried chicken, watch films, TV and sport from America. But a few people coming here to flee persecution or to work, who happen to have a slightly 'darker' skin and suddenly he's all about preserving 'England'

[Eporili]

Mainstream media always choose the facts that suit their case. Correct on the population density of the UK, but what they fail to mention is that England is the 8th most populated in the world. The UK is not because Scotland, Wales are sparsely populated, the majority are in the South East of England.

[davidcarrol]

Matthew wright please come back to Channel 5 to replace Jeremy Vine.

[GSOHJM]

We are not 11% developed. The other 89% includes the Scottish Highlands and the Cumbrian Fells. Those are not places which we consider as eligible for development and so should never be counted in the 100%. I'd like to see the percentage of development excluding everything we're leaving green forever.