Gordon, I think it is really terribly sad that have allowed yourself to be led so easily off topic and up the garden path by artful members into derailing the thread through a personal declaration of love for UKIP. Perhaps you should pay more attention to Loz' classes on "How not to get yourself lost on the internet". However, since you have followed this up with yet another off-topic post on immigration I feel entitled to point out, in relation to the NHS, that without immigration the Health Service would have 40,000 fewer doctors and far, far fewer nurses. Indeed, without these immigrants the NHS would have collapsed in on itself years ago.
But I generally agree with your sentiments about Thatcher.
Colwyn, whilst I agree with your figures re. doctors & nurses , please read the following, I know you will , because you, like myself, are an " informationati " .
In 2012, 435,000 long-term international migrants arrived to live in England, which is 87% of the total 498,000 long-term immigrants to the UK. Scotland received 34,000 long-term immigrants (7% of total), 16,000 people (3% of total) immigrated to Wales and 12,000 people (2% of total) immigrated to Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales had more long-term immigrants than long-term emigrants in 2012, with net migration figures of 158,000,14,000 and 8,000 respectively. By contrast, Northern Ireland had more long-term emigrants than long-term immigrants, resulting in a net outflow of 2,000.
So, yes, without immigrants, there may have been a short fall in the amount of medical staff in the N.H.S. but that beggars the question as to whether so many would have been necessary , but for the huge number of immigrants who are constantly putting more and more strain upon an already floundering service ??
Also, if Scotland is so welcoming to " long stay " immigrants, why is the total for the same year, 2012, a mere 7% of the total figure of 498,000 who turned up in the U.K. whilst England has been invaded by 87% of that total figure ??