Are 1 in 10 on the dole really immigrants?

The Sun should use language that reflects reality, not their readers' prejudices.

Foreigners now make up almost one in ten of all dole claimers, according to page 2 of today’s Sun.

The statistic is just the latest rejoinder in a row between the government and Brussels over the extent to which migrants are moving from country to country as ‘benefit tourists’ within the EU.

A total of 9.4 per cent of all Jobseekers Allowance claimants this year – 142,300 – were ‘not British born’, according to the Sun. This compares with the 3 per cent figure cited by the EU – prompting the Sun to boast that the “statistics used by the controversial [EU] report are almost two years out of date”.

The Sun’s story, however, is quite misleading.

Firstly, why has the paper chosen to use the broad term ‘not British born’ in a piece about benefit tourists coming to the UK from other EU countries?

One in 10 job seekers allowance claimants are ‘not British born’, according to the Sun. This is not the same, however, as one in 10 jobseekers allowance claimants being ‘benefit tourists’ from other parts of the European Union – as should have been obvious to the journalist writing the piece.

According to the 2011 census, one in eight – 13 per cent – of UK residents was born overseas. To give an example of just how fatuous the term ‘not British born is, here are a few British national treasures who would fall under the paper’s definition of ‘benefit tourists’ should they ever sign on for jobseekers allowance (unlikely, I know):

Tory MP Daniel Hannan – born in Lima, Peru

Joanna Lumley – born in India

Eddie Izzard – born in Aden, Yemen

Richard E. Grant – born in Swaziland

Boris Johnson – born in New York, USA

Bradley Wiggins – born in Ghent, Belgium

John Barnes – born in Kingston, Jamaica

None of these celebrities were British born. According to the Sun,  they are therefore ‘foreigners’ and potential ‘benefit tourists’.

As to the wider row about migrants coming from places like Poland and Hungary to claim benefits and ‘steal our jobs’ (you’ve probably noticed a contradiction there that some of our political commentators are seemingly oblivious to), there is, as it happens, no precedent to support such claims.

Research published by the government last year found that almost 17 per cent of all British nationals were receiving working-age benefits compared to under 7 per cent of all those classed as non-UK nationals when they first arrived in the UK.

As of February 2011, those who were foreign nationals when they first came to the UK represented 6.4 per cent of claimants – despite making up 13 per cent of the population.

Working-age benefits are defined as income support, job seeker’s allowance, carer’s allowance and disability living allowance.

This is a long-term trend. In 2008-09, at the height of Labour’s policy of so-called ‘uncontrolled immigration’, A8 immigrants paid 37 per cent more in direct or indirect taxes than they received in public goods and services.

A8 immigrants also contributed 0.96 per cent of total tax receipts and accounted for only 0.6 per cent of total expenditures (see table; click to zoom).

Immigration graph 2

The Sun may not have wished their terminology to have been interpreted in this way. They may also have been attempting to whip up hostility to migrants using phrases like ‘not British born’. Either way, they should use language that reflects reality, not their readers’ prejudices.

47 Responses to “Are 1 in 10 on the dole really immigrants?”

  1. Richas

    How could you leave out Cliff Richard, born in Lucknow India?

    The Sun also seems to have left out the large number of German born people who moved to the UK when their tourist parents stopped being based in Germany as art of the British Army on the Rhine. They selfishly served their country by being based overseas and actually brought their kids back to the UK with them after!

  2. henrytinsley

    They’ve a bloody nerve stirring this up – the owners of the Sun aren’t even British themselves.

  3. Alan Ji

    You forgot journalist and former Tory MP Matthew Paris. Does he still owe a round of drinks in Newcastle after his “World in Action” programme?
    Not to mention distinguished England international footballers
    Graeme Le Saux and
    Matthew Le Tissier
    both Channel Islanders.

  4. Selohesra

    Whilst you may have a point there is a world of difference between your headline questioning whether 1 in 10 immigrants are on the dole and the article referring to 1 in 10 on the dole being immigrants. I think perhaps you suffer the same wooly thinking asThe Sun

  5. John Woods

    I had thought that immigrants from the EU had to be able to support themselves for 3 months (13 weeks) when they got to any other member country. If so how are some Romanians begging in the streets as soon as they arrive?

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