From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polish minority in United Kingdom has existed since as early as 16th century. Significant number of Poles settled in United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Second World War. After Poland joined European Union in May 2004, many young Poles temporarily moved to UK which offered good opportunity for work.

Polish people have travelled to England and other parts of the United Kingdom throughout the centuries for a variety of reasons. In the 16th century Polish travellers came as traders and diplomats. In the 18th century a small number of Polish Protestants arrived as religious refugees due to the counter reformation in Poland. In the 19th century, due to the collapse of the November Uprising of 1831, many Polish fighters came to Britain in search of sanctuary.^{[citation needed]}

However, it was only after the First World War that Poles settled in large numbers in London – many from the London Polish Prisoner of War camps in Alexandra Palace and Feltham. During the Second World War the majority of the Poles came to the United Kingdom as political emigrés. In 1940, with the fall of France, the exiled Polish President, Prime Minister and government transferred to London, along with at least 20,000 soldiers. Many other Poles based themselves in other parts of the United Kingdom and in practice London became the nerve centre and military headquarters of the Polish liberation movement.^{[citation needed]}

When the Second World War ended, a Communist government was installed in Poland. Most Poles felt betrayed by their wartime allies and were extremely reluctant to return home.^{[citation needed]} Polish soldiers refused to return to Poland, and large numbers, after occupying resettlement camps, later settled in London. A significant number of Poles were professionals (lawyers, judges, engineers), yet only doctors and pharmacists had their qualifications recognised. As a result the majority of Poles worked in building and construction, coal mining and other forms of manual labour, as well as in the hospitality industry. However, the Poles were very entrepreneurial and set up a number of businesses such as clock, watch and shoe repairs – many of which are still operating today.^{[citation needed]}

The relaxation of travel restrictions to and from Poland saw a steady increase in Polish migration to the United Kingdom in the 1950s. Brixton, Earls Court and Lewisham were a few of the London areas where they settled. As these communities grew, it was felt by the Polish Catholic hierarchy and the English and Scottish hierarchies (the majority of whom were Irish^{[citation needed]}) that Polish priests should settle and minister specifically to the spiritual needs of the Polish people. The first such parish was Brockley-Lewisham in 1951 and today there are 10 Polish parishes in London, in places such as Balham and Ealing.

The Polish Government in London was not dissolved until 1991, when a freely elected president took office in Warsaw. The Polish people fought hard to combat communism, and for their right to liberty. Previously a base to fight against the communist regime in Poland, London came to be seen as an important centre to foster business and political relations.

The main hub of the London Polish community is Hammersmith in West London.^{[citation needed]} The activities revolve around the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK) on King Street. Polish newspapers and food shops are increasingly apparent following Poland's entry into the European Union in May 2004. About 60,000 people living in the United Kingdom were born in Poland and about 250,000 are of Polish descent [these figures may now be out of date].^{[citation needed]} Poles have in the London Borough of Ealing Council two representatives: Councillors Wolodymyr Barczuk and Joanna Dabrowska (both conservative).

There are also Polish communities outside London. Poles have settled in Bolton, Bury and Chorley in Lancashire. There is a long established Polish community in Bristol and there are also concentrations in Nottingham, South Yorkshire, South Wales, Rugby, Banbury and Swindon.^{[citation needed]}

(Originally based on an article in the British Magazine The Week, 27 May 2006, p 11.)

Following Poland's entry into the European Union in May 2004, Poles gained the right to work in other EU countries. While France and Germany put in place controls to curb Eastern European migration, the United Kingdom (along with Sweden and the Republic of Ireland) did not impose restrictions. Immigration into the United Kingdom from Poland and other areas of Eastern Europe is now a controversial topic.

The British Home Office originally anticipated an inflow of 5,000 to 13,000 people a year, but by the end of 2005, according to Home Office statistics, 204,895 Poles had registered to work in the UK and pay tax. The number of unregistered Poles working in the shadow economy is probably as large. The Poles are relatively dispersed throughout the United Kingdom but do have some concentrations, making up a sixth of the population in Crewe, all arriving in the last two years.

Most Poles do low-paid jobs in catering, agriculture and construction, as exemplified by the stereotypical "Polish plumber". 80% of these workers earn £6 ($10) per hour, which is close to the British Minimum Wage but, according to The Week, four times what they would earn in Poland. About 4,000 Polish doctors have been recruited for the United Kingdom's hard pressed National Health Service although there have been concerns about their relatively poor English.

Most of the immigrants are educated people in the 20–35 year-old age group. According to an assessment by the Ernst & Young Item Club, the benefits to the United Kingdom from this influx of cheap labour are an extra 0.2% of GDP growth and interest rates 0.5% lower than they would otherwise be. Many richer Britons appreciate having cheap and willing labourers, while many poorer citizens resent the incomers for taking entry-level jobs and keeping down wages for low-paid workers.

The influx of Poles has led to homelessness amongst the incomers. The Cowgate Centre in Edinburgh reports 20–30 homeless Poles turning up every night. The Hammersmith area – a centre for previous generations of Poles – has had to find accommodation for 5,000 Polish workers. A survey by Homeless Link the national federation of homelessness agencies, shows that 1 in 7 of the people using homelessness services in London are from Poland or the other A8 countries.

Back in Poland the exodus is causing concern for Polish politicians. The Polish magazine Polityka has launched a "Stay With Us" scheme offering young academics a £5,000 bonus (10 months' salary) to encourage them to stay at home. The right wing Law and Justice party, meanwhile, has questioned the patriotism of those Poles who leave.

Today Polonia is the biggest minority with European background in Great Britain.

• Joseph Conrad, novelist.
• Jan Pieńkowski, Children's Illustrator
• Nigel Kennedy, Violinist
• Rula Lenska, Actress
• Waldemar Januszak, Historian and Art Critic

v • d • e British Census: White British
Native inhabitants	Anglo-Irish • Brython • Cornish • English • Gael • Irish/Irish Traveller • Scottish • Welsh
Immigrants	Australian • French • German/German-Briton • Greek • Italian • Spanish • Polish • Russian