The opinion piece highlights a growing sense of injustice among British taxpayers, who feel they are being unfairly treated while significant resources are allocated to support foreign nationals, including illegal migrants and asylum seekers.
The author, Matt Goodwin, questions the fairness of political decisions that prioritize non-citizens over British citizens, particularly in areas like welfare, social housing, and crime.
Goodwin points out that over one million foreigners are claiming working-age benefits in Britain, with households containing at least one foreign national receiving more than £7.5 billion in Universal Credit in a single year.
To put this into perspective, he notes that this amount could fund 25 million winter fuel payments for British pensioners, who recently had their payments cut to save £1.5 billion annually.
The author also highlights disparities in social housing allocation, where British citizens often feel they are “at the back of the queue,” and crime statistics, which show that foreign nationals are more likely to be arrested and convicted of serious crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
Goodwin argues that these trends reflect political choices made by Westminster, which he believes prioritize the needs of non-citizens over those of hardworking, law-abiding Britons.
Goodwin criticizes the government for spending at least £5.5 billion annually on illegal migrants and asylum seekers, while British taxpayers are left footing the bill.
He estimates that between welfare payments for foreign nationals and the costs of the border crisis, British taxpayers are paying around £13 billion a year—equivalent to £250 million every week.
The piece concludes by emphasizing that these issues are not just abstract statistics but reflect real political decisions that impact the lives of British citizens. Goodwin argues that many Britons feel they are no longer a priority in their own country, a sentiment he believes is justified. He asserts that treating citizens this way is contrary to the values of fairness and justice that define British society.
