Some facts from Eurostat, UK Office for National Statistics. Lots of good stats https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/feb/19/the-rise-of-the-far-right-global-trade-and-ukraines-future-why-the-german-election-matters-visual-explainer
The key ones for my argument are that the total pop of the EU will fall to 419m by 2100, UK will rise to 86 million. However without migration the numbers are 295m and 48m. Stats for Spain and Italy(pop with no migration would halve!) and Germany are equally large. On the face of it, for the planet and its environment this is good news. However without migration the number of over 65’s increases from 21% today to 32%. This comes with commensurate health and care issues. With AI perhaps resulting in a dumbing down of jobs will we see a growth in care type jobs for those unable to achieve doctor status?
Whatever, the topic needs addressing – many hospitals across Europe rely on migrants to function (and heir own countries would benefit from their prescence at home!). It is not just health and care sectors – the UK seems to have a work problem? 3 million UC claimants not looking for work? My immediate reaction is. that maybe the right sort of jobs are not out there? Maybe neighbourhood office style centres with support and cafes could provide an answer? ZOOM calls do away with the need for commuting. I have no idea of the skill sets of these people.
Again – we need a proper discussion without workshy accusations.
Next day! Discussing this in the shop A made the comment that only the rich and the poor can afford children. I think it is more complicated. Yes the cost of mortgages makes the traditional set up more difficult, but the trend is across Europe! Other factors must come into play. 1.- smaller families – one or two children is definitely the norm. 2. -Getting married later (or not getting married at all, so starting a family later. 3.-Thus having the one or two children later. 4. -Job security is diminishing. 5. Then there is social media, it is not designed to be family friendly? 6. – fears for the future, it was a factor back 50 years ago, but the future has not got brighter? 7. – decline in the extended family makes it more difficult to raise a family. 8. -Women needing to work to pay the bills (this hits the middle classes