#OnThisDay 1961: Panorama asked whether Irish immigrants should be freely admitted into Britain when Commonwealth citizens were being restricted.

Every person interviewed here was so articulate with their views they believed in and so gentle. We have lost the art of communicating with respect.

@mandy_mcauley The Irish certainly built Britain in the decades after WWII, and also staffed tge NHS etc. There is such a stereotypical approach here in always choosing to interview Irish people in pubs.

How articulate those interviewed were.

"I say, Paddy"

I wonder how many shirt and ties are worn on building sites nowadays!

My Father and Mother both emigrated to London in the early 50's. In my wider family circle of working class Dubliners many also emigrated to Manchester Derby Coventry.A great insight into life as a Navvie in this book, a hard and often sad life

As with most immigrants the Irish suffered a lot of prejudice in the UK. They did the jobs that no one else wanted to do and got ridiculed for being thick, drunken, breeders and anti UK, due to the IRA actions. It seems nothing changes but the target. 🎯🤦🏽‍♀️🤷🏽

In 2023 proportionally four times as many Brits live in Ireland than Irish living in Britain.

Great listen. Well considered opinions delivered. Much better than the shock jock black and white social media driven drivel we hear so often today