Britain’s population is growing faster than any other country in Europe, fuelled by the biggest surge in births for 40 years, official figures have revealed.
Mass immigration and an increasing birth rate coupled with a life expectancy of 80.75 years has added almost 420,000 people to Britain’s population in just one year.
Charity Population Matters have launched a campaign to call for an end to population growth, asking the UK government to put plans into place to keep the population below 70 million – currently at 62.74 million.
The charity includes supporters such as broadcaster David Attenborough, worried that the human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrolled way.
“If we do not take charge of our population size, then nature will do it for us and it is the poor people of the world who will suffer most,” he said.
So should we continue this way without consideration? Or does this suggest measures need to be taken to combat an increasing population?
MM ventured onto the streets of Piccadilly to find out what you thought, asking:
Given the current population crisis, do you think there should be a cap on how many children a family is allowed to have?
|
Option |
Result |
|
Yes |
46% |
|
No |
54% |
|
What crisis? |
0% |
Liz Loveridge, 39, an office worker in the City Centre, said: “Definitely if you’re not working – if you’re not earning, you shouldn’t be allowed any kids.”
D White, 69, retired from Sale, said: “No, but if you do decide to have children, you should be the ones to pay for them.”
Ben Murray, 23, a student from Fallowfield, said: “There’s absolutely no need – for starters how on earth would you impose it, it would cause uproar. It’s turning a free state into a dictatorship.”
Zoe Hawkins, 20, an au pair from Hyde, said: “To an extent yes – I think people should definitely be able to provide for their children without benefits.”
Paul Cranston, 33, a solicitor from Didsbury, said: “It makes no sense, if you are a loving family and well off, it’d just be obscene to restrict their right to children.”
Becky Morgan, 20, a student from Bradford, said: “No – it’s against human rights; I think people should be educated more on their family planning options, but a cap shouldn’t be enforced.”
Louise Hargreaves, 41, a shop manager from Stretford, said: “I think there should be, we all need to take a joint responsibility for future generations.”
Richard Greensmith, 52, a telecom technician from Salford, said: “No – it is concerning how many people there are, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say there should be a cap.”
Richard Greensmith, 52, a telecom technician from Salford, said: “No – it is concerning how many people there are, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say there should be a cap.”
Emma Willat, 32, a revenue manager in the City Centre, said: “Definitely not, it’s almost inhumane to suggest a restriction on how many kids you can have, it’s everyone’s right.”
Dawn Glover, 36, a finance manager also in the City Centre added: “Nobody should be able to tell you how many children you can have – I don’t think number of kids should be restricted, but some people should probably be restricted from having kids!”
Picture courtesy of James Cridland via Flickr, with thanks.
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