Yes, Migration is a class issue.

With Bernie Sanders coming out against open borders, and Labour reaffirming their commitment to ending freedom of movement last week, you might well be wondering if along with pastels and culottes, socialism in one country is back.

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[outlawJosieFox]

Everything is a class issue. This is class war, always has been, always will be.

[RizztrainingOrder]

"If you find yourself demonizing someone lower on the socioeconomic ladder than you, your more than likely being manipulated by someone higher on the socioeconomic ladder than you" JD

[MrNiceHk]

Regarding your last statement, I take your very large point. But we now live in the most mobile society, Civilisation has ever seen, movement of people causes very large social economic issues regardless of your politics. When there is no framework in place to manage cultural harmony, education, and there are already economic pressures its almost on rails that a omnishambles clusterfuck arrises, one which very unscrupulous people are only too glad to take full advantage off, politically and economically. Ultimately it's the very people you are trying to protect who end up on the receiving end of that shit storm. The ruling class have always done one thing very well, divide and conquer. What socialists really need to in order to get any traction at all, is to form bridges with working people and pull the curtain back, show them how capitalists profit from their misery. Show them how Socialism can provide a better safer life for their children. Dismantle the myth that Socialism is the arena of ironically middle-class intellectuals who have never done a days work in their lives, these stereotypes have been put in place by capitalists to create distance between workers and socialism. They have convinced the masses that socialism means taking their money away, it means unstable societies run by committees nobody voted for, it means totalitarianism, it means lack of luxury, its anti ambition, it's not competitive, socialism is angry, not realistic and ultimately a waste of time. Obviously, this is all utter bollix but the opponents of Socialism have been very successful in convincing the average man and woman on the street that this is what socialism stands for.

[MacrobianNomad]

The Internationale Unites The Human Race

[peaceharmony]

I'm not a fan of unchecked mass migration, but I agree with you that making use of "temporary workers" is a recipe for exploitation. We should neither flood labor markets in developed wealthy nations with immigrants, particularly low skilled ones, but nor should we abuse work visas.

[SirAmicVarze]

This completely ignores the class issue that freedom of movement is only applied to and utilised by middle class white people.

[ramaisibo]

this aged well, ha. I don't understand, the same people who are against nativism are the ones that give money to Amazon tribes to protect them from globalism. Nativism is a question labour has to grapple with, not to embrace racism but understand that local people/voters matter. Entire communities have been destroyed in social experiments, entire sectors, the Labour party has to wake up. I'm black and voted labour since 97 but you cannot give the entire Eastern EU the right to live in UK, when only the middle-classes want to holiday in Europe. We have to end this low-wage slave labour import, as a Socialist if you are pro a Neoliberal wankfest like the EU, you cannot be a socialist, never, ever. When Marx said Workers of the World Unite, he didn't have mass transport and global travel, he meant unite in a cause in your own countries and change them there, not to run away to another country. These soya Latte Neoliberal Communists are really confused

[truckerfromreno]

Disgusting. WE white working class people disagree.

[MrNiceHk]

Love your content, thank you, Ash. We need more nuance within society.

[zaclang]

With the exception of micro states like Monaco and Lux, England is the most densely populated country in Europe - 259 people per square km. more than twice that of France. Every human has an environmental impact, most new houses build over a green field, most families want a car - I left England in 1999, now I am in Australia: (3.1 people per square km).. You get used to England being as it is, but when you leave, you get a sense of how cataclysmically crowded the island is - all the wilderness is gone, finding a quiet beach on a sunny day is impossible, all the roads are slow moving and choked with traffic. It's not good socially and it's deadly for the environment. House prices become unaffordable for ordinary people. You may not agree with this, but I think it's a reasonable argument to say that a continuing high population growth curve in the UK is not good for ordinary working people, and that anybody that questions the logic of it, isn't necessarily a "fascist". Looking at the adulation and glowing validation in the comments section here, I can't help believe that you delete most comments that don't support your narrative - if so I think that's either vanity or paranoia - or at the very least it's a sad reflection on your desire to have sincere discourse with people with differing opinions.

[alexlee]

Don't ever see her commenting on Dianne Abbott's racist remarks... And inability to do simple math and know her facts and figures. Labour should be ashamed to have Dianne as home secretary... God bless us all if labour take control

[redrobbosworkshop]

Good video.

Definitely a class issue, but then everything is a class issue.
Which class controls migration? - the ruling class and where we see periods of relative relaxation around the rules, this should not seen as supporting freedom of movement, rather freedom to exploit a plentiful supply of labour. Where the working class, or its political organs control migration policy this runs tandem with wage and conditions equality. That's the difference.

[Grandfinal]

Freedom of Movement is perhaps the few things good about the EU

[jamesedwards]

Its not "freedom" of movement, it's movement compelled by market forces. People dont come here under the single market because they like the weather, but coz the market demands it. Of course freedom of movement drives down wages, similar to how free trade drives down prices of goods. Think of borders and visa's as a tarriff or quota on imports. In the neoliberal market town that is the eu, labour is a comodity, and the "freedom" of movement doesnt serve the worker but the capitalist.

Lets take free movement of doctors. Say we recruit eastern european doctors to work in the uk for higher wages. What happens in eastern europe? The transfer wages of stopping their doctors working elsewhere increases, so they have to pay doctors more. This means the cost of medicine increases in eastern europe, whilst our cost of mesicine goes down (as we have increased supply of doxtors suppressing wages).

"Freedom" of movement is for the rich. For every woeker that leaves eastern europe, prices there go up. For every woeker who enters the uk, prices go down. Wealth diffuses from the poor to the rich.

[ryan_]

Sometimes it's hard to really wrap my head around not understanding these very obvious points, but the power of propaganda from the capitalists should not be underestimated.

[geoffpoole]

With freedom of movement/immigration come concerns about housing priorities, increased demands on health, education and other resources. That's what people get worked up about. Another point is the free movement of labour does not operate on a level playing field. Some countries are more attractive to prospective migrants due to stronger economies, better infrastructures, more freedoms and greater opportunities. No one in their right mind would leave the UK in order to seek work in Albania.

[Hecatonicosachoron]

My thoughts exactly!!! Well done!!
Migration IS a class issue. The super-rich can always buy their way through border restrictions. Ordinary people can't.

[lindahurrell]

Dear Ash, what do you say to people's fear that the country will get 'too full'?

[arcarsenal]

Strong statement at the end there. Well done!
As far as I'm concerned, Britain's history has directly affected
global economic history, add that together with all the slave trade, wars and
foreign meddling, and I think it's safe to say that it's our duty the support
people in all struggling nations. If that means allowing the less fortunate
into ''our'' country for a chance of a better life, then so be it.

We can't choose where we're born.

[flfydragon]

I'd say "socialism in one country" but I'd also support the federalization of the world.

Though the necessary first step is federalizing the EU and then abandoning capitalism with the backing of it being a proto-type 1 civilization.