Latest news with #Continental-style
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stopping the boats is only half the battle. We must also restore British values
At church on Sunday, we were asked to pray for refugees. I admit that, for the first time, I hesitated. Over the weekend, we have watched helplessly as hundreds of illegal migrants crossed the Channel with impunity. Even John Healey, the Defence Secretary, found these scenes 'pretty shocking'. The monthly Universal Credit bill for households with at least one immigrant is now almost £1 billion. Our streets are disfigured by imported crime and conflict. It isn't easy to be a Good Samaritan when you feel that your country is no longer your beloved home, but a fairly insalubrious hotel. Indeed, the anger engendered by what I call border anxiety puts at risk everything that fills us with patriotic pride – our ancient laws and liberties, our tolerance and sense of fair play and, yes, our kindness to strangers. Successive governments have been elected to control migration, but have proceeded to do the opposite. Simultaneously, we have dismantled or denigrated our own culture, our values and our traditions. The result is that we cannot integrate those who are already here, because we are losing the sense of what it means to be British. Unless we believe in ourselves, all we have is anarchy in public and parallel societies in private. The rage provoked by feelings of betrayal over uncontrolled migration is shattering the British political system, which the rest of the world used to envy and imitate. Yet it is fatal to our civility to give in to that rage: 'Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.' Instead of the fabled stability of our two-party parliamentary democracy, we seem now to be succumbing to a Continental-style chaos of four, five or more factions. A forest fire of fury has annihilated the old parties in France, Italy and other European nations. Why should Britain be immune? Fissiparous parties held together only by hostility are, ironically, prey to foreign powers. In Poland, the presidential election was overshadowed by the fact that the nationalist Law and Justice candidate, Karol Nawrocki, went to the Oval Office mid-campaign to pay homage to Donald Trump. Her master's voice, the US Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem, flew to Warsaw to insist that 'Karol… needs to be the next president of Poland', while denouncing his liberal rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, as 'a train wreck of a leader'. Trump's emissaries had already intervened in the German election earlier this year: both Elon Musk and J D Vance endorsed Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. When the German authorities accused the nationalist AfD of extremism, Washington protested again in the name of 'free speech'. Meanwhile, the AfD has made no secret of its pro-Putin sympathies – and the feeling is mutual, especially since the new conservative chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has emerged as a staunch ally of Ukraine. We don't want to see British politics dominated by the White House or the Kremlin. Nor do we want every other urgent issue – from defence to the deficit – to be subordinated indefinitely to migration. We need to reach a new consensus on how to deter or deal with illegal migrants as soon as possible. Undesirables who come here to commit crimes or exploit our generosity must be deported. Likewise, legal migration must be curtailed, citizenship earned and rules strictly enforced. Above all, we must rediscover the world we have lost: in which our history is not a tale told by ideological idiots, but the stirring narrative of a nation of pioneers, entrepreneurs and saviours. We worry about immigrants, but forget about the half a million emigrants we lose a year, many of them young families despairing of a society that has lost its own plot. Three of my four grandchildren are growing up in Poland, a land that has endured an incomparably harsher past than our own, but which celebrates its culture and inculcates old-fashioned good manners. No wonder it is predicted that the Poles will overtaken Japan in GDP per capita next year and will one day surpass Germany and the UK too. Given the polarisation of British opinion on immigration ever since the 1960s, achieving a robust consensus may seem a remote prospect. Yet it is actually well within our grasp. As I wrote here recently, Denmark has done exactly that with its Social Democrat-led coalition under the formidable Mette Frederiksen. She has demonstrated beyond doubt that banishing border anxiety, while restoring confidence in cultural identity and the nation state, do not need to be demonised as a 'far-Right' crusade. Ms Frederiksen is indubitably a woman of the centre-Left, but she is first and foremost a Danish patriot. There are many grounds for doubting that Sir Keir Starmer is about to follow Ms Frederiksen's example, but one of the strongest is the electoral calculus. Labour's elites are wedded to the notion that their voters, who include millions of migrants and their descendants, would desert them if they adopted the Danish model. They are not entirely wrong – many Labour MPs do face threats from Lib Dems, Greens and especially Islamists – but this is a test of the Prime Minister's statesmanship. Ms Frederiksen's predecessor, Helle Thorning-Schmidt (the wife of Stephen Kinnock MP), failed that test and lost. She is a historical footnote, while Ms Frederiksen is widely emulated. Equally, Reform UK is guilty of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. We must beware of belittling the huge contribution that those from overseas have made to this country. It is no accident that the last two Conservative leaders have had migrant backgrounds. There are many like them who are intensely proud of this country and have no time for those who claim asylum but are really gaming the system. It was Rishi Sunak, not Sir Keir, whose measures, passed before he left office, have halved the net migration numbers. Hence Kemi Badenoch is the politician who most deserves to be trusted to achieve a new settlement on migration. Her formula is the right one: to end the automatic path to British citizenship and introduce a legally binding cap on annual immigration. If any leader can lay the spectre of border anxiety to rest, it's Kemi. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
East Cork seeing significant investment in bricks, mortar and people
While the draw towards East Cork for individuals has stemmed from its proximity to the city, industry and jobs, the investment of public funds has been equally impressive. The development of towns such as Midelton and Carrigtwohill is clearly laid out in the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 and East Cork is certainly one part of the country where such plans have been methodically followed, with elements falling into place in impressive fashion. 'Carrigtwohill and Midleton have been long identified as one of the new places for building (more homes),' says Ed O'Donovan of Sherry Fitzgerald, director of Sherry Fitzgerald O'Donovan, who have offices in Fermoy, Mallow and Midleton. As someone who returned from London to East Cork to head up the Midleton office of his family business, he is keenly aware of the benefits of life in East Cork. 'The number of developments that are ongoing at the moment is a testament to that,' he adds. 'Traditionally, you would have seen a huge draw with local East Cork buyers but now you have people coming from farther afield — from Ballincollig, West Cork, North Cork and Cork City.' The extension of reliable public transport is making quite a difference to how people view the option of living in East Cork. Right now, the area benefits from an increasingly Continental-style level of rial service that is continuing to improve. 'The commuter belt from Midleton to Mallow will be huge,' says Ed. 'That's the train line with all the new stops along the line between Dunkettle and Water-Rock.' At the latter just outside Midleton, 2,500 new homes are being built over the coming years. 'There are two sets of developments at Water Rock already,' says Ed. 'We're selling homes in Lakeview, which is just off the Lakeview Roundabout, and they have sold exceptionally well.' There's a very broad base of buyers for these particular houses, he says, with people from various parts of Munster as well as many overseas clients working in Cork City or its environs and who see the big advantage of living in somewhere like Midleton, with its bustling market-town ambiance. Although it has been only a year and a half since dramatic flooding devastated much of the town centre, Midleton has surprised many with how quickly it has bounced back. 'There was quite a drastic flood in 2023,' says Ed. 'At the time, we had expected there to be a lull that would have lasted a lot longer than it did. At the end of it, the town bounced back within about six months. Now it seems like a distant memory; which is great.' Midleton's unique mixture of multiple services with a fast-growing population have given it an impetus that is not easily replicated or found elsewhere. As regards more new developments, the current requirements for housing mean that it will quite be a while before demand in East Cork or anywhere else will be sated. The trajectory of new homes being built and planned for means that it is one part of the country where one can see a positive future in terms of provision of housing. 'We've a lot of housing coming on,' says Ed. 'In the County Plan, a lot of land has been zoned for residential so it makes it easier for developers to get planning permission.' In spite of some teething issues with Irish Water, the provision of services is good too - from the groundwork services to the aforementioned public transport services. 'The planning permissions coming through is a lot quicker than for many other areas too,' says Ed. The positivity is not only confined to 'anchor' towns such as Midleton and Carrigtwohill, but also to all the other smaller settlements. The village of Cloyne is an example of that ripple effect throughout East Cork. 'We have new homes development in Cloyne,' says Ed, 'and some of the prices of the three-bedroom homes in Cloyne are hitting the same level of similar properties in Fermoy… it just goes to show the kind of demand that there is for a small village like Cloyne. There's that draw to it because of its proximity to the likes of Ballycotton and other places with beautiful beaches along the coastline, like Garryvoe. 'Cloyne is only ten minutes from the beach, ten minutes from Midleton — it's very central. We're selling homes in Whitegate as well — another lovely seaside village and you're also near Trabolgan and Roche's Point. 'The train service is very good already and with plans for it to get even better, it makes a huge boost for the area,' says Ed. 'On a regular basis, you'll see the amount of people getting on the train in the morning or the evening is impressive. It feels like London to a certain degree at times!' Killeagh, just one of the towns in East Cork where new property development is expected to continue to soar in the next few years. Picture: Dan Linehan East Cork property continues to enjoy a surge in popularity With offices in Cobh, Midleton and in the heart of Cork City (on the South Mall), McCarthy McGrath Auctioneers are perfectly placed to witness the various trends in property buying in the East Cork area. Managing director Miah McGrath isn't surprised at the rise and rise of East Cork as a destination for a great standard of living and of life. 'East Cork has always been popular,' says Miah. 'It just doesn't get the same level of attention that West Cork does.' The reasons he gives for the area's popularity echo what just about everyone else is saying: 'The connectivity of the place would be a huge factor,' says Miah, 'between a super road network and a train network that's being upgraded to a twin track, it's very impressive. For people who want to work in the City, it's not even necessary to have a car anymore. 'Farther afield, then, you have the connectivity to amenities such as beaches or forests. From Midleton, for example, you have a choice of maybe a dozen different beaches within 30 minutes. There are water-sports, there's golf, hurling rugby … it's a really good place to live and I think that more and more people are acknowledging it now. We always knew it, of course.' The firm has been around for a long time, too, Miah adds. 'We've been auctioneering in East Cork for longer than any other firm and there are only a few others in Cork City that have been in the sector longer than us. So it does give us a unique perspective on things.' Founded in 1958 by Jeremiah McGrath, McCarthy McGrath has built an unrivalled reputation for integrity, professionalism, and results. Over six decades later, the firm remains a family business, headed up by Jeremiahs son, Miah who has cemented the position of McCarthy McGrath as a cornerstone of the Cork property landscape, offering a full suite of services across residential sales, lettings, valuations, commercial property, and development land. In recent years, the company has also carved out a niche as a leading advisor in the development land sector, assembling a client list that would be the envy of many larger firms. Their ability to deliver value in complex, high-stakes transactions is a testament to both their market insight and professional acumen. These days, it's all about being in the market to offer people new housing developments that are coming up and in this, Miah says that the company is at the forefront. 'We would have the majority of new estates in Midleton,' says Miah. 'There are a number of new developments coming up there and we've new houses in Cobh and other surrounding areas as well.' As East Cork continues to grow and evolve, McCarthy McGrath is poised to play an even greater role — consolidating their position as one of the region's premier property service providers, and helping shape the future of Cork's property market with the same principles that have guided them for over 60 years. Youghal, a very popular seaside town whose time has come It was after Lockdown – a time when so many reassessed their lives — that people began to appreciate the location, beauty and history of Youghal. So says Fiona Hennessy of Sherry Fitzgerald Hennessy, who has been selling property in the town for the last three decades. 'Right now, the market is very much like anywhere else,' says Fiona. 'There's short supply and strong demand everywhere.' There are, however, new properties in the pipeline. With some social and affordable housing due to come to the market soon, there area also plans for a much bigger development. 'There are 15 social/affordable houses coming in the next few months,' she says. 'There's a development site that I sold last year and the owners have put in for planning permission for over 100 houses.' Such a development will have a significant impact on the local housing market where, in spite of the town's obvious attractions and qualities, houses remain amongst some of the most affordable in East Cork. As part of the Sherry Fitzgerald group, Fiona's agency also benefits from the very transparent online bidding system that the company operates. For private treaty sales, people can register and then bid on a home. Their bids, along with those of other parties, are on an online system so that everyone can see the other bids and whom their bidding against. 'It's a great system and it works very well for us,' says Fiona. Youghal is officially a Heritage Town, as well as being a holiday seaside destination. The other side of it is the fact that it is a very good location for those commuting to either Cork City or Waterford City. Moreover, it's still adding to its list of amenities. 'And now we have the new Midleton-Youghal Greenway,' says Fiona. 'It's a really great addition to the area and there are already two bike rental places have popped up. People rent their bikes and off they go. I even did it myself recently and it's fabulous.' The local authorities are also going to open a new viewing site for visitors to Youghal by the old lighthouse. This landmark has been a world famous one since it had a starring role in the film version of Moby Dick in 1956. 'The lighthouse has been closed to the public for years,' says Fiona, 'but Cork County Council are hoping to have the viewing area up and running for the summer. 'I think that many saw Youghal as somewhat 'undiscovered' but that is changing now. We get a lot of people looking for new homes in the area but also a lot of people choosing to retire to Youghal.' With its commuter qualities, its history, its massive beach and its charm, Youghal's star is set to keep rising over the coming years.
