kimamey

Asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are 2 different groups of people. Asylum seekers have to make themselves known to the authorities in order to claim asylum. They also have to be in the UK to claim asylum except in a few circumstances such as applying though the schemes for those from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Illegal immigrants tend to hide rather than present themselves to the authorities. One of the reasons we may be seeing more of them is because now they come over in boats and Nigel Farage can go and film them. They used to hide in lorries and other vehicles and jump out without anyone knowing. One of the issues has been that there aren't enough legal routes for someone wanting to come to the UK to claim asylum so they have to come illegally and then claim.

There have been attempts to tackle this but I would imagine there are difficulties in regulating it. I know it happens in other countries but I've not looked at how well it actually works. I think some at least do pay tax which is how the case accusing the tax office of living off immoral earnings came about. It's probably the higher paid ones as otherwise it would be difficult to explain your lifestyle.

So it hasn't really changed from what I said although definitions may have been updated.

I think it's usually based on the law rather than 'spurious reasons'. There are problems with people suddenly becoming gay or religious but I doubt the numbers are as great as papers like the Mail would have you believe. What qualifies as 'an industrial scale'? Asylum figures are always difficult to interpret as there are so many variables, but it seems that since 2021 the approval rate has been just above 70%, but this is higher than the pre Covid rate. I don't know why this would be. Would those on specialist schemes for those from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine be included. I don't know. This would have been at the end of Priti Patel's stint as Home Secretary and the beginning of Suella Braverman's. Maybe they were both too woke. Obviously none of this applies to this guy who seems to like pushing his luck. I didn't see what what grounds he's given for claiming asylum, but unless it's very good I can't see it succeeding. It's not as if Thailand is dangerous or particularly oppressive.

It depends on what you think shouldn't be a crime. If it's prostitution, then that is legal in the UK. The laws may have changed but I think it used to be soliciting, running a brothel and living off immoral earnings that were offences. I think it's the soliciting bit that causes problems for sex workers as you need to let people know what you're offering. In my home city of Southampton many years ago prostitutes started sitting in upstairs windows in their underwear with red lights behind them, as they do in Amsterdam. To avoid the suggestion they were soliciting they would be knitting. There would be a bell on the front door with a sign saying "Model available Please ring". It didn't last though. There was also a court case accusing the Inland Revenue of living off of immoral earnings when they took tax.

I can't remember the numbers now but according to the last figures I saw from the government, no they aren't. Also a large percentage of appeals against rejection are upheld. That may have changed but I doubt it.

Well obviously that needs removing

Yes I've seen that as well. I think it's like a lot of national pride, both here and elsewhere, where it's important if you can use it against someone. Many times I've seen a 1 or 2 baht coin on the floor with Thais seeing it but just walking past. I pick it up as it has the king on it and could be trodden on. Plus if I collect enough I can buy myself something 😃

You may be right but I haven't seen any evidence of Sadiq Khan giving his blessing. If you have then I'd be happy to see it.

Basically it's theft and obviously something that Thais take very seriously, if it's their flag of course. Any other nation's flag, I'm thinking of the UK and US mainly, then make mud flaps out of it or wrap it round your bum, who cares. I'm British and I don't care if people paint it on trucks or make shorts using the image or even a doormat, it's nice to see it, but at least don't use double standards. If you fly it upside down of course then that's punishable by death. 😄

Very sad. Maybe if Chinese authorities warn there citizens of these dangers, alongside the others we've seen recently, then hopefully the Chinese will stop coming and tourism will suffer and then it will effect something important enough to get the Thai government to actually take some responsibility. Money.

Wasn't there one in, Phuket I think, where they had signal lights and there was a video of vehicles ignoring them. Including a police pick up.

It keeps the power with the men doesn't it.

I had one of those as well. I wrote to my MP about it. The only credible excuse is the amount it would cost and the fact that it would be paid by taxpayers. That would be me then as I pay tax on my UK state and private pensions, plus the tax on the rent from my flat and the various other taxes like VAT. It would also effect all taxpayers as well. At the time the Tory government had found enough financial leeway to abolish the lifetime and annual allowances on pensions that benefit wealthier people. Sometimes people move abroad to be nearer their children, especially if their partner has died and they are on their own and may need state provided care.

Yes I was aware of that. I was assuming, maybe incorrectly that with easier travel and the ability to find possible foreign partners online, as I did, that people were more likely to want to move abroad and so it has become more of an issue than previously, hence the increase in interest recently. It may well be that more might leave if the pension was increased. It's certainly affecting me a lot more now since the increase in inflation.

When I first used it they told me to contact the DWP, who then told me to contact the IPC again. I asked where I could find the rules regarding frozen pensions as I couldn't find them on gov.uk and I was told "It will be on there somewhere". Not particularly helpful. Before phoning them, and because they are obviously busy I tried looking on the website with the results I mention above. I also used their online enquiry form, twice with no reply. I suspect that's their to avoid phone calls in the hope people give up. It certainly isn't a way to get information.

The 5 precepts being a good example. Which is why there's a need for a group of men, as far as I know it's always men, who are there to find an interpretation that suits your needs and you can give them money, food and power. And of course massage their ego.

It's very complicated isn't it. I was always in the UK for around 6 months and stayed with my mother, and worked for some all all of that time. I was in the UK from September 2020 due to Covid and then, because there were so many things to think about, including helping my elderly mother buy a new flat, which is 1 bedroom so I can no longer stay there, I made the mistake of flying back to Thailand in early March 2022 which meant I missed the increase. I tried finding information about this on the DWP website but I couldn't find anything. I used the International Pension Centre online enquiry service, twice with no reply. I phoned IPC and they told me to phone DWP, who told me to phone IPC. I asked them where I could find the appropriate information online and I was told "It'll be on Gov.uk somewhere". The guy did say that being back in the UK for more than 6 months would reset things but that's not the only way they work things out, as you say. I can't find the letter they sent me, but I know it mentioned the points you refer to and some others. Oddly some of the items, such as return flights, they never asked me about. I don't own a residence in the UK as I can't afford it right now, particularly in the south where my family are. I do have a flat that I rent out. I could kick out the tenant and live there but he's been there 8 years and he's no trouble so I just couldn't do that. I have a mother (96 this year) 2 adult children and 2 granddaughters. I've got a car, although that might have to go as it's becoming difficult to get it looked after whilst I'm away. I've got rented storage for things I'll need if and when I can move back. That might be difficult as I'm not sure I could afford to take my wife.

It was mentioned in the Labour manifesto for the 2019 election, which they lost of course. I don't know if there will be anything in the next one. The economy is predicable a bit weak at the moment and there are a lot of other things that need fixing. As more people move abroad, and they will be able to vote after 15 years it might become more difficult to ignore.

I've used that number a few times, but not since the end of July last year. I don't think it took too long to get through, but it's a while ago so I may be wrong. I hope you've manged to speak to them by now.

Sometimes they kill other innocent people as well as themselves. The thought that the police might do their job and you couldn't just get away with it just by giving a policeman a few hundred baht works in other countries pretty well. If it didn't then why have any traffic police. Thais should understand the idea of safety but I'm not sure many of them think far enough ahead to grasp that.

If my life weren't fun I'm not sure why I'd blame Thaksin or Trump.

My Isaan wife is entirely different. We were on holiday in Scotland, near Loch Ness I think. I'm not sure of the year but probably 2011 or 2012. I'd never discussed politics with her, but I sat down beside her with my laptop. There was a picture of Thaksin with someone else who I can't remember. My wife is in no way violent but she surprised me by pulling her fingers across her throat and making what I assume was supposed to be a cutting sound. Then we went to the UK this last Christmas and were walking in one of the parks in Southampton where there's a speaker's podium. She stood on it whilst I took a picture. I wasn't until I got closer that I heard what she was saying. "Thaksin go to hell". He certainly brings out a different side to her. If he does become PM again I wonder if he'll finally get round to delivering justice for those killed by the army during the red shirt protests as he promised? Of course not, I'm being silly aren't I. From what you've said it seems those in your village have forgotten about those victims anyway, probably in favour of the hope of money.

It does say it's to cover the gap until things are sorted out. My late wife needed adaptions to our house and I received financial help, carers allowance and supplementary benefit I think. That was around 2003 I think and the local authority was better funded then. Now things aren't so easy from what I can tell.

Yes, respect only goes so far I think they ignored his advice on submarines as well.