The Spectator

Letters to the Editor | 11 February 2006

Plight of the Poles

From Martin Oxley
Sir: Anthony Browne’s article suggests that demand from UK employers is driving mass migration of new EU nationals to Britain (‘Invasion of the New Europeans’, 28 January). The British Polish Chamber of Commerce can certainly confirm this view. Last year the Chamber organised two recruitment fairs for British companies and recruitment agencies, which attracted over 11,000 Poles interested in working in the UK. This year — because of growing demand from British employers — we shall be organising at least five recruitment fairs.

Yet the points made by Andrzej Tutkaj (‘The misery of the Polish newcomers’, 28 January) are also valid. Too many Poles get on a bus or plane (ten Polish cities now have low-cost air routes to Britain) without much thought as to what to do on arrival. These are the Poles who are most likely to end up in the grey economy, their lack of English being exploited by unscrupulous employers. A small minority end up homeless or become a burden to the social resources of the post-war Polish émigré community.

Our message to Poles is simple: do not go to the UK looking for work if you do not speak any English, or without a clear plan or an ample reserve of cash. Better still, set off for the UK only if you have a signed employment contract in your hand before leaving home, and know where you’ll be living and how much you’ll be earning.

Should there be a limit? The free market and the democratic will of the British people should decide.
Martin Oxley
Chief Executive Officer,
British Polish Chamber of Commerce,
Warsaw, Poland



From Dr Jan Mokrzycki
Sir: First of all let me congratulate you on Anthony Browne’s article. I would, however, take issue with him on some points raised. It is unreasonable to blame the immigrants for the lack of skills-training in the UK.

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