England Suspect Immigration drives debate on EU referendum

 Lorries disembark from a ferry that arrived at the Port of Dover in south east England,
Thursday, June 9, 2016. On a clear day, the coast of France is visible from Dover’s famous white cliffs, and they provided a vital vantage point for the early spotting of German bombers heading toward London during World War II. The concern now is not enemy attack, although an armed Russian submarine was recently intercepted in the Channel. Instead, it is Europeans who arrive legally under EU rules guaranteeing the free movement of people.

He's tired of Eastern Europeans arriving on these shores, and he plans to use his vote to make that point. "In Dover, the biggest issue is immigration," said the proprietor of the W&G Hall convenience store. "I'm speaking for a lot of people here — we've been inundated, and they've changed the face of the town, not for the better."

  A British Border Force vessel patrols in the Strait of Dover, south east England, marking the narrowest point of the English Channel which separates Britain from mainland Europe, Thursday, June 9, 2016. On a clear day, the coast of France is visible from Dover’s famous white cliffs, and they provided a vital vantage point for the early spotting of German bombers heading toward London during World War II. The concern now is not enemy attack, although an armed Russian submarine was recently intercepted in the Channel. Instead, it is Europeans who arrive legally under EU rules guaranteeing the free movement of people.

The "remain" camp led by Prime Minister David Cameron appears to be winning the economic argument, with key business figures warning that leaving the EU might bring economic calamity in the form of higher taxes and spending cuts.

The "leave" camp, however, may be winning the emotional argument about how staying in the EU will lead to unchecked immigration and the transformation of British life. Led by former London Mayor Boris Johnson and UK Independence Party chief Nigel Farage, the "leave" campaigners charge that British workers have been hurt because EU "freedom of movement" laws mean that Hungarians, Slovaks, Poles and others can come to Britain visa-free to live, work and claim benefits.

They warn that if Turkey joins the EU — a prospect that is not imminent — it will give access to Britain to millions more. And they point out that Cameron's government has failed to make good on promises to cut immigration. Official figures show net migration of 330,000 people into Britain last year, far higher than Cameron's targets.

It is not clear if anger over immigration played a role in the slaying Thursday of Labour Party legislator Jo Cox, a backer of the "remain" campaign who had called for more to be done to help Syrians fleeing civil war there.

She was shot dead by a man who, several eyewitnesses said, shouted "Put Britain First" during the fatal attack. The influx of newcomers has created plenty of resentment in Dover, Britain's prime port for ferry and vehicle traffic across the English channel.

"Immigration is really the issue playing on their minds," said Leo Whit lock, editor of the Dover Mercury. On a clear day, the coast of France is visible from Dover's famous white cliffs, and they provided a vital vantage point for the early spotting of German bombers heading toward London during World War II.
The concern now is not enemy attack, although an armed Russian submarine was recently intercepted in the Channel. Instead, it is Europeans who arrive legally under EU rules guaranteeing the free movement of people.

  A Chinese tourist looks out from a section of the White Cliffs of Dover in south east England towards the Strait of Dover, marking the narrowest point of the English Channel which separates Britain from mainland Europe, Thursday, June 9, 2016.