Immigrants: Burden or Benefit?

It has been quite a common trend in British politics that whenever challenges grip the country and politicians struggle to work them out, the same old villains are trotted out: immigrants.

Since Britain is now facing major crises like the higher cost of living, immense pressure on healthcare, economic uncertainty, and political instability and polarisation, politicians have once again started playing out the tired and old script of scapegoating immigrants.  

In fact, for over a decade, it has been blamed that problems—the crowded GP waiting rooms, the struggle to find a decent home, and the pay that hasn’t kept up—are the fault of people who came here from somewhere else. But this story isn’t just wrong; it’s a dangerous distraction.

Let’s be clear: immigrants didn’t decide to underfund the NHS. They didn’t vote to cut council budgets or let affordable housing vanish. They didn’t privatise the utilities or deregulate the job market. These were political choices, made by politicians not by immigrants. 

And the bitter irony? The very systems being blamed are often propped up by the people being accused: immigrants. 

Think about the NHS. Imagine it without the one in five staff who were born abroad. Picture the care homes without the thousands of migrant workers who do the vital, difficult jobs that keep people safe. These are the same people some politicians casually label a "burden" while relying on their labour. The hypocrisy is staggering.

It’s a convenient shortcut, isn’t it? Instead of tackling the real, gnawing issues—why wages are frozen, why the country can’t build enough houses, why its infrastructure is creaking—it’s simpler to just blame immigrants. It stirs up fear. It wins votes. But it doesn’t fix a single thing.

The numbers tell a different story. In 2021–2023, they contributed around £10-12 billion more in taxes than they received in benefits, that is just £1-3 billion, (ONS data). It shows that immigrants put more into the pot than they take out. They are part of the engine of this economy, not the anchor dragging it down. 

This blame game has a human cost. When politicians use this language, it permits prejudice. It makes hate feel common. The rise in hate crimes and the toxic debates about small boats aren’t accidents. They are the direct result of politics that chooses a scapegoat over a solution.

If Britain truly wants to find its footing, it needs to start with the truth. Immigrants are not the disease. Very often, they are part of the cure. They bring the skills, the drive, and the fresh perspectives this country needs to rebuild. The real threat isn’t the family seeking a safer life or the young graduate bringing their talent here. The real threat is some politicians who exploit fear for a headline.

Before pointing fingers at immigrants, politicians engaging in the blame game and their supporters who are falling for it should remember who immigrants are. They are the nurse taking your blood pressure. The builder of your new home site. The teacher in your child’s classroom. They are your neighbours, your colleagues, and hopefully, your friends.

Moving forward, Britain’s recovery and resilience depend on not blaming immigrants who are helping to hold this country together but starting to hold to account the ones who are pulling it apart. Therefore, it is time to begin to rebuild trust, address real problems, and create a society where collective effort, not blame, will shape Britain’s future.

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The writer is a journalist and researcher in journalism.