The UK is not populated by anti-immigrant racists, whatever Suella Braverman believes

The news that net immigration hit 606,000 last year was received with howls of anguish from those who see immigration as a self-evident “problem”. They were led by Rishi Sunak, who insists the numbers are “too high, it’s as simple as that and I want to bring them down”.

With breathtaking hypocrisy Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, blamed migrants for “placing an intolerable pressure on public services”, as if the Tories haven’t been carrying out vicious cuts to public services for over 13 years.

The mainstream media, ever happy to stoke anti-migrant hate, turned to Nigel Farage for his opinion and he obliged them by declaring the figures show “a total breach of trust between voters and this government”.

And instead of defending migrants, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper used the figures to attack the government as having “no grip on immigration”. It is a disgrace that the biggest political parties in the UK are locked into a downward spiral into the gutter as each tried to show they’re more anti-immigrant than the other.

The good news is that poll after poll in recent years show the general public have a much more positive view of immigration and migrants than the leaders of either the Tories or Labour.

A YouGov poll in 2019 revealed that people in the UK were more persuaded of the benefits of immigration than any other European nation. An Ipsos survey released at the end of 2022 found support for reducing immigration was at its lowest since 2015. And a survey carried out this year by the Policy Institute at King’s College London found that out of 17 countries, people in the UK were least likely to say that their government should place strict limits on the number of foreigners who can come to the country or prohibit people from coming altogether.

Some 68 per cent of people in the UK who were polled believe anyone who wants to come to the UK should be allowed in, and 70 per cent polled believe immigrants strengthen the rich cultural diversity of the UK.

The UK is not populated by anti-immigrant racists, whatever Suella Braverman believes. That’s because migrants are not faceless numbers to be deplored by unscrupulous politicians who seem to be looking to appeal to the racist vote.

They are neighbours and friends and colleagues and family members. They are part of UK society to which they have given far more than they have ever taken. So, 606,000 people came into the UK last year? Good. They’re welcome here.

Sasha Simic

London

Immigration is at record highs and no one is accountable. The Tories have failed to deliver on housing, hospitals, education, transport, roads and energy to meet these population increases. This imposes tremendous strain on all services by continued lack of investment which erodes further all citizens’ quality of life. Why is this not being addressed?

If the UK is the fifth richest nation in the world, where is the evidence?

Clive Jones

Cheshire

I read your editorial (Immigration is a great British success story (26 May) with interest, also Steve Mackinder’s letter in reply to mine. I agree with your editorial that immigration is symbiotic of a largely welcoming country, if it is sensibly managed. I also take Steve’s point that perhaps I am too idealistic in my approach because the innate infrastructure has to be maintained.

I live in Great Yarmouth where there has always been immigration, attend the local Catholic church, where we have more nationalities attending than you can count on the fingers of a multiplicity of hands.

So I am used to this multiculturalism and indeed like and welcome it. Indeed I had no problems with freedom of movement either, when we were in the EU, because it all adds to the mix of a county which is welcoming and accepting of others who can all contribute and be a part of our inherent national story.

But I totally agree that the rhetoric emanating from the government has been nasty and mean-spirited, especially in the case of desperate asylum seekers. Also as you rightly state and I applaud your campaign, Afghans have been badly let down who have helped our country and should be allowed a safe sanctuary here.

It is a contentious issue, but for once can’t the advantages be spelt out by all political parties instead of the opposite? Yes, we need a reasoned debate but take the inherent heat out of the subject, cool the incendiary rhetoric and see people who are willing and eager to come and settle and work in our country, which is surely a significant thumbs up for our perceived advantages, so we in fact must be doing something right!

Judith A Daniels

Norfolk