Small island cannot cope with migrants

From: Michael Iveson, Summerbridge, Harrogate.

THE latest figures for net migration to the UK should be viewed with some alarm, particularly considering the apparent ineptitude of our border controls.

A small island cannot tolerate such a large annual increase in population. Surely something should be done about this problem before it is too late?

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Predictions indicate a UK population of some 70 million in the near future, a figure which cannot be catered for without widespread unrest.

The spin offs from our exploding number of inhabitants are many and not always recognised, probably because they are too obvious for our leaders to see.

For a start, an increased population tagged onto the same infrastructure and business and industrial structure must be a major factor in increasing unemployment.

The increase is also the basic reason for the current housing shortage which can only be corrected by swallowing up more of our precious island, as authorities seem reluctant to build upwards. The spectre of social unrest must always be in the background given such problems.

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The above problems are not ours alone. There is a rapid increase in the world’s human population, a major factor in the terrible famines and civil wars which plague our planet, to say nothing of the extinction of so many wonderful non-human creatures.

Unfortunately, to suggest greater control of migrant movement is to be labelled a racist, which I am not.

One thing is certain, if something is not done by dithering governments, then mankind is hurtling towards self destruction.

We owe it to those who are yet to come to ensure that they are still able to enjoy this wonderful world.

Don’t use tax to fund parties

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From: Coun Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Leeds City Council.

MANY of your readers will have noted the reports in the press that the Committee for Standards in Public Life has recommended that the taxpayer should stump up £23m a year in additional funding for political parties, but only those that are already established at Westminster.

While the state has a role in regulating donations to political parties, using the public purse at this time to hand over yet more ‘wads of dosh’ is not acceptable and I was glad to see senior political figures from all three major political parties rejecting that proposal.

Political campaigning isn’t cheap and I can’t deny that extra money would be welcome, particularly as we Liberal Democrats don’t receive the level of funding from big business and the trade unions that the other two major parties do. However, when as a country we are facing the funding problems caused by our debts, it would be wrong to add even more bills to the pile that the taxpayer will eventually have to meet.

Time for PM to grow up

From: Roger M Dobson, Ash Street, Cross Hills, Keighley.

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WHEN is our Old Etonian Prime Minister going to grow up and come into the real world?

Before he was elected, we were promised a referendum on the issue of staying or leaving Europe. Bankrupt or not, he sends overseas aid to all and sundry.

The continued loss of lives of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan does not seem to bother him – he just offers his sympathies to the bereaved.

He tries to run the economy of Europe even when we are not part of the eurozone.

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Our only blessing in this country is that it is David Cameron and not Nick Clegg who is Prime Minister.

Cash essential for better care

From: Mike Padgham, Chair, Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire).

WE invite Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow, and every director of adult social services, to work with a homecare agency that provides council-funded care, to help them understand why services are becoming hurried and undignified.

Yes, training and inspections are vital, but only proper funding by councils will really address the situation and enable employers to provide properly-trained, rewarded and motivated staff, who can provide timely and compassionate care to people who need it. Government must take the opportunity to rectify chronic under-funding in the immediate and long-term.

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Unless some radical decisions are taken, the quality of homecare is going to suffer and examples like those found by the Equality and Human Rights Commission will become more common. Neither agencies, nor their careworkers, wish to see this happen. Older people need protection from the indignity caused by increasing shortage of funds.