Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 7th November, 2021)

Without exception , none of the 200 ' refugees' currently in the Britannia hotel , look remotely like this .
None wear traditional clothing . None are female .
For a true depiction of the situation at least in Standish , the puppet should be in designer gear carrying a smart phone .

I don't understand why she's called 'little' Amal - she looks at least 21 !
Does it mean if her mum and dad were with her they would be twice as tall.?

VERONICA, i suppose she has to be so big to stand out and to be seen.
DAVE, correct re the Standish ones and with a gold chain around her neck, plus she should be calling wherever she can to buy alcohol just as the Standish lot do, then go on to housing estates, make a lot of noise and leave a load of smashed glass behind. A friend of mine works in Bargain Booze, if they buy cans he marks the bottom of them with a permanent marker, he walks down the mineral line most days and their empty cans are scattered everywhere.

Yes and they spread graffiti as well, you can tell because it's foreign.
That's the thanks this country gets.

I have every sympathy with refugees from war torn lands...I am not quite as charitable when it comes to economic migrants, it does seem they are mainly young men. What happened to the old saying, charity begins at home ? Think Burnley & Stalybridge for a start......I am sorry if I offend but its what I feel.

Poet, Ive seen and spoke to plenty still wearing their own traditional clothes in Standish, I know a lot are in new fancy clothes that are provided by charities in France and the UK, you should try stopping a having a chat with them next time you see any you might be surprised what you can find out.
I was chatting a to a Syrian family on the canal bank in Martland mill a few weeks back, I even sent a photo of them into PADs but it never was put on.
Last week I was making some donations at the Brick shop in Gidlow lane last week and got talking to a Hong Kong refugee who was working their, he had fled Hong Kong other wise he would have been jailed in China.
The puppet is oversized so that the little ones at the back can see her, I witnessed many Wiganers in tears last week when they saw her plodding along

She looks like a right misery to me.

Roy, There wasn't an awful lot of litter down on the line when I walked it earlier, but I didn't spot any marked cans - so your friend is to be commended for his public-spiritedness in collecting all 'his' cans off the line. But I wish he would pick up all the other cans and bottles he sees while he's at it....
And Wigan wouldn't be here if it weren't for economic migrants.

Most are here from Somalia . The only thing they're fleeing from is doing their National Service . That's why they're all young men . They are not refugees . They are illegal frauds taking us for a ride . I question the morality of those who leave their womenfolk in difficulty and who think it alright to simply gate crash a country on a rubber dinghy .
Apply for immigration via the correct channels . Not the English channel .
Roy , I see them going by my house all the time with Bargain Booze carrier bags . All summer they've sat on the memorial bench on the line downing their tax payer funded binges . Now it's winter they go back to the hotel where they blast the central heating out all day and night with the windows wide open . Why not . It's all free in the land of milk and honey . Oh and any folks who maybe waiting weeks to see a GP will be pleased to know that they also have their own doctor at the hotel.

Mick , there's no way the clothes these lads are wearing have been donated . This is seriously expensive clobber . Who gives brand new leather Armani jackets to charity ?

She has an identical twin brother called Juan. So, once you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal. (I'll get me coat)

Mick, there are no "refugees" coming from Hong Kong.
Although there are thousands coming, all being housed and given a "settlement fund" along with a living income (benefit), none are refugees.
They simply want to come here rather than be Chinese. In fact, they're being invited by our government. Indeed, they are being ticed by our government.

I agree with Helen and Dave. I have every sympathy for the war torn refugees, but not the 'economic' illegal ones. They cross several countries to get here, leaving the women behind. I also sympathise with the people of Hong Kong, who would want to live under Chinese rule after the freedom they have experienced. I just wonder how this country will survive in years to come. There's so many homeless already..

We have many 'economic ' migrants in East Anglia too, Eastern Europeans. They have practically taken Wisbech as their home town. They came here legally & when we left the EU they chose to stay. They are lovely, friendly people who work hard, they have opened fascinating food shops & other businesses that contribute to the economy of this country and they work in the hospitality industry which is very important in this neck of the woods.
Perhaps I used the wrong term..economic migrants when referring to all the young men who try to get here illegally.

If they didn't come just think how mucky our cars would be

Rev David, i realise that migration is a part of English history throughout time and it isn't only a post world war 2 thing, but most migrants then came to find work or trade goods, as are not the ones we are seeing in Standish at the moment. I have every sympathy with people being driven from their homelands through war or fear of persecution.

Why else would economic migrants come but to find work? It's not their fault that the Government forbids them to do so.

vement.Seeing him I was ashamed of this countrys disconcern for our homeless/ Charity should begin at home but that gets no brownie points Shame on the goverment

First part shoud read I saw an old man pushing a supermarket trolly with all his worldly goods in.

Sorry to disagree Rev but they seem quite happy lazing around on the phone.With not a care of the people they have left behind

Annemarie, for all you know they might be on the phone trying to get in touch with the people they left behind

Sadly, charity often doesn't exist among some people, even towards those at home. Look at our 'Strivers' versus 'Scroungers' nonsense - when so many people in work cannot live without benefits.
I'd be charitable and say, annemarie, that perhaps they're phoning home to reassure their families. Their idleness is enforced by Government policy - the same Government that, as you say, fails to provide for the poorest in our own country. We're a wealthy enough nation to look after our own as well as give a welcome to refugees and migrants. Pitting one neglected group against another solves nothing, and stirs up hatred. Do we really need more hatred in our world?

Mal, thanks for such a funny inclusion amongst all the debating relating to immigrants, I thought it was the most funniest comment I have ever heard, cheers buddy, you brightened my day !!!.

It is always possiable but the image of the old gentalman will be with me forever.

Annemarie, the Pope was very happy to see little Amal last week

You say how it is Annemarie, I agree with you. People are too frightened to say anything these days without being thought of as being racist. I believe the phones are free as well and the bills to pay for the calls.
We all know how expensive the smart phones are, I still use an ordinary mobile phone for emergencies. The illegal immigrants are also breaking the law by entering the sea in a boat..also putting other lives at risk who go out to rescue them. If they are legal immigrants fair enough.
Even the French say we make it too easy for them.

Some of the comments here say far more about the commentators than about the plight of the refugees. Anyone who leaves their family and risks their life by land and sea must be desperate. A situation that I cannot begin to contemplate. As a nation we should help these people and, at the same time, help our own dispossessed.

Our dispossesed are on the streets and very poorley clothed.As they are mainly men what is happening to the women and children at home who is feeding them.

These men would have been great on the Titanic .

Why is it when you ask a question the people saying how hard a journey they have had running away cant answer about people left behind good thing our men stayed and fought for us in 2 world wars

Annemarie soldiers have to stay and fight thats what they get paid for.

Most of these refugees are innocent people.

In the last two wars men a boys were called up to fight for this country they weren't professional. They stayed and fought for what they believed in they didn't run away. Unlike the 20,000 a year who are coming into this country illegally. They should fight for a better country even if they need help to do it.

Pathetic. A waste of resources, time and money.

The UK had civil wars, was invaded by the Romans, Vikings, etc, bombed in the blitz and suffered under many tyrants, yet... the British people didn't run away begging other countries to "save them" We stayed and fought the enemy. Why the difference?