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Madding crowds

• Mark Mardell
• 5 Nov 07, 09:42 AM

Some news stories exist in a little media bubble, observed, not experienced, by most of the audience.

During my little break in Britain I was struck how much that certainly isn't the case with immigration from the eastern European Union. From hearing Polish on the streets of London, to signposts on a roundabout in a seaside town, to a Polish Chinese deli, to sketches on comedy programmes, it's near the top of the public debate. Last week the government again had to confess it had got the figures wrong.

My visit also coincided with a report on the projected increase in Britain's population. This prompted a fascinating blog from my colleague Evan Davis and some interesting posts from his readers. I hope it would not be too incestuous if I have my say.

I was really surprised by Evan's assertion that Britain is less crowded than Belgium, and would continue to be so even if there is a huge and radical increase in the size of the UK population. ("No!" says my son, and my wife indicates she thinks this is rubbish, using language too colourful to be allowed here.) Evan, I'm sure, is right, but the vulgar reaction of my nearest and dearest makes my point that it certainly doesn't feel that way.

Why is that? Is Belgium just better laid out? I don't think London has changed that much in the two years that I have been away, but the sheer density and volume of people on the streets actually feels pretty disturbing now. Brussels is just a much quieter place. London spreads and sprawls, sucking the life out of the suburbs, whereas Ghent and Leuven are pleasant cities within commuting distance of the capital.

Evan also make the point that the Netherlands is even more densely packed. I only know Amsterdam and The Hague reasonably well but neither feels crushed. The Dutch countryside isn't much to write home about and there's huge urban sprawl. But it doesn't feel head-bustingly bad. Of course, there is great Dutch angst about migration but that's more to do with culture than crowds. Are there any Dutch readers who feel in need of space?

But it is the debate about migration that gives this population projection a sharper edge. A number of Evan's correspondents single out the European Union as the villain of the piece. One of them suspects the will undermine the British opt-out on immigration policy. But others say that right now Britain will only be able to control its own migration policy if it breaks free of EU requirements.

Well yes and no. There's no doubt the huge number of Polish workers in the UK stems from the fact that they joined the EU three years ago and because we are fellow members of an organisation that claims that the free movement of workers is

But there's an irony here. Britain has a bit of a reputation for opting out. We've opted out of the euro, immigration policy, and the "no borders" agreement. The Lisbon Treaty will allow opt-outs on policing, justice and, arguably, the

But Britain enthusiastically embraced the free movement of workers from the countries that joined the EU in 2004, when most of the other members were opting out. All except Sweden and Ireland adopted barriers against workers from the east.

At the time, it was felt that Britain was being the forward-looking free-market member of the club while others were protectionist and reacting to popular prejudices rather than looking at hard economics. I haven't quite heard ministers say, "They were right," but they must feel that way. But was the policy misguided, mishandled, or is Britain just undergoing another bout of good old-fashioned fear of foreigners? I presume in Paris you still can't get your U-bend unblocked on Sunday?

Since 2006, 10 countries have lifted their original restrictions, but the big economies of France and Germany are among those that have kept them. Britain has put barriers in place to stop any possible mass migration from Romania or Bulgaria. What there is now is a hotch-potch of national measure across the EU, which is presumably what those who disapprove of the organisation would want.

But those countries that do restrict movement of workers can only do so until April 2009, although they can carry on for a couple more years if they prove their labour market will be seriously disrupted. I wonder if the British debate will have any impact on their arguments?

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