The debate on immigration keeps on raging isnt it?
Here is how i reflect on the matter with the question on hand: as it is, the rich will keep on getting richer and more select, some of the middle class will thrive and some will demote and the poor will become poorer and a larger group at that. This is likely a big part of why people feel there is decline, the analysis of why its happening and likely will continue is complex but in making the analysis and looking for solutions its clear to me that "immigration is the distraction". Afcourse there is rational to how immigration can affect economic and social matters, but in reality it is of marginal influence in the state of affairs, however the longer people waste space and time over talking the matter they arnt really examining the complexity of contemporary issue lest to speak explore creative ideas and potential solutions to it, which favors the elite who do influence politics or even set up cute think thanks that validate their most opportune of ideals to imperiously push on us.
Sorry to say, but most of the contemporary debate on politics is daft and besides the point. What we really need is more people writing books that talk about new methods in we can organise our society's or economies that yield better results for those participating, or by extension people who talk about such matters and are willing to step into the unknown. Granted, occupy wall street atleast was a sizable expression of peoples socio-economic concerns, one that seems to have been stamped down with extra vigor i might add.
I cannot else but get the impression that there are "2 Brittains" in that aspect aswell. One that is rich and coasts on the traditions and achievements of the former empire for as long it can, one that is perhaps poor but has a rich cultural identity expressed for a large part trough a vibrant music culture if i can put it in a extreme shorthand way. When you look at Brexit, you can almost see those fault lines along voting blocks. As it is imho, Brexit is a method for the elite class to further its own interest in ways they think they can achieve while being completely callous to the plight of the many to who it would be a detriment. Its almost a consolidation of power sprung at a opportune moment, as if the people in power had only waited long enough to see if they had driven up anti-Eu sentiment in he UK high enough in the polls to do the oh so democratic "once in a lifetime referendum brought to you by the powers that be".