Immigration is the Elephant

1.37.48pm GMT Mon 26th Oct 2009

The BNP's appearance on Question Time last week undoubtedly pushed immigration to the top of the political agenda.

It is claimed immigration is the elephant in the room that none of the major political parties want to talk about. Certainly John Piasecki, Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bracknell, did not mention the subject in any of his latest attempts to justify his Party's record in office.

Surely the Government's record on immigration ought to have been included in his list of achievements, following the revelation that his Government paved the way for 3 million immigrants to come to this country since 1997, as a deliberate act of policy!

I do not recall any Labour manifesto encouraging immigration on such a scale. At present rates, the population of Britain will increase to 70 million by 2033, an increase of 10 million, nearly 70% of which will be new immigrants.

Such an unprecendented increase is unsustainable, especially in the South East, as the pressure on resources, public services, the environment and quality of life continues to grow. Furthermore the country already faces the tightest round of public spending cuts for a generation, whichever party wins the next General Election!

Migrants can, and do, make a very positive contribution to our economy and society but it is very hard for people to have faith in the immigration system when the Government so treacherously seeks to undermine the fabric of our society for its own ends and treats the electorate with such contempt.

Ray Earwicker

Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell