Economic migration. It has always happened. The Irish left Ireland in their droves due to the potato famine, landowners etc. The Welsh did likewise and now have large enclaves in unlikey places like Chile. The Italians left Italy in their droves.
Today Spaniards are leaving Spain in their droves. One destination is the Uk. Like it or not the Uk is a rich country with jobs - might be "low" paid jobs but they are jobs nonetheless. In Spain unemployment is 25% and youth unemployment a staggering 56%. Can you blame them for wanting a better life?
London is the sixth largest city in France by population of French.
I saw a breakdown of Immigrants by country into Spain.
By far the biggest group were Rumanians and Bulgarians. Nearly 1 million. I don't know about the employement rate but many are reckoned to be in rackets.
Next was Brits at 650,000. Of those I would guess at least 80% are retired.
Next was Chinese at 350,000. All under retirement age and all working LONG and HARD hours building businesses selling cheap goods - A bit like Wilkos but on ASDA scale. All their retired go back to China where they have , they feel, a better health service and retirement
If you live in Sain pre retirement age technically you do not qualify for State Healthcare unless you are in employment. You have to have private health insurance. I think it is a disgrace that the UK lets all and sundry have access to the NHS. I dare say their are "expat" websites helping foreigners jump the queues. In Spain now anyone arriving after April of 2012 has to be able to prove they have the means to live here (private income/fat bank balance) before they get residency. Anything like that in Britain? Don't suppose so as we don't even know where the illegals are. What a shower.