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| Rhetoric and reality on immigration | Rhetoric and reality on immigration |
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| Congratulations to Sarah Teather (Sarah's war, 13 July) for her principled stance on the government's immigration policies. To learn that a government working group was initially called the Hostile Environment Working Group, targeting "unwanted" immigrants, is no surprise when the Home Office recently put out a report blaming immigrants for stretched NHS services, crowded schools and, particularly astonishingly, exploitative landlords. British political debate is being poisoned by vicious rhetoric on immigration. | Congratulations to Sarah Teather (Sarah's war, 13 July) for her principled stance on the government's immigration policies. To learn that a government working group was initially called the Hostile Environment Working Group, targeting "unwanted" immigrants, is no surprise when the Home Office recently put out a report blaming immigrants for stretched NHS services, crowded schools and, particularly astonishingly, exploitative landlords. British political debate is being poisoned by vicious rhetoric on immigration. |
| And who are the victims of the government's policies? On the government's own figures, about 18,000 partners of British people who won't be able to live with their loved ones each year, and tens of thousands of international students, whose loss is costing our higher education institutions billions, and may eventually destroy the viability of some of them. | And who are the victims of the government's policies? On the government's own figures, about 18,000 partners of British people who won't be able to live with their loved ones each year, and tens of thousands of international students, whose loss is costing our higher education institutions billions, and may eventually destroy the viability of some of them. |
| As the Green party conference said recently, in opposing the government's immigration cap, we need to stop treating those who are not native to the UK as a problem. We have big problems with the NHS, crowded schools, housing and low-wage jobs. But the government must not be allowed to scapegoat immigrants for this. Instead we must firmly point the figure at the disastrous and unmandated dismantling of the NHS, inadequate and misdirected investment in schools, failure to build council housing, and failure to secure and enforce labour market regulation. The current direction of debate is going to have real world consequences. The drunk in the pub seeking a target for his ire or his fists, the frustrated woman on a crowded bus, are going to feel they have been given permission to make an immigrant, or perceived immigrant, their target. Natalie Bennett Leader, Green party of England and Wales | As the Green party conference said recently, in opposing the government's immigration cap, we need to stop treating those who are not native to the UK as a problem. We have big problems with the NHS, crowded schools, housing and low-wage jobs. But the government must not be allowed to scapegoat immigrants for this. Instead we must firmly point the figure at the disastrous and unmandated dismantling of the NHS, inadequate and misdirected investment in schools, failure to build council housing, and failure to secure and enforce labour market regulation. The current direction of debate is going to have real world consequences. The drunk in the pub seeking a target for his ire or his fists, the frustrated woman on a crowded bus, are going to feel they have been given permission to make an immigrant, or perceived immigrant, their target. Natalie Bennett Leader, Green party of England and Wales |
| • The home affairs select committee claims there are 500,000 unresolved immigration and asylum cases and estimates they will take 37 years to clear. No doubt this problem arose under the last government with its open door policy of allowing a net 2 million into the country. Those who tried to point out the results of this uncontrolled immigration were considered to be racist or just anti-immigrant. | • The home affairs select committee claims there are 500,000 unresolved immigration and asylum cases and estimates they will take 37 years to clear. No doubt this problem arose under the last government with its open door policy of allowing a net 2 million into the country. Those who tried to point out the results of this uncontrolled immigration were considered to be racist or just anti-immigrant. |
| Now Sarah Teather claims it is dangerous to speak out against the treatment of immigrants. I suppose she kept her head below the parapet during the influx of so many immigrants, many no doubt into her own constituency. | Now Sarah Teather claims it is dangerous to speak out against the treatment of immigrants. I suppose she kept her head below the parapet during the influx of so many immigrants, many no doubt into her own constituency. |
| More houses, school places, benefits, are necessary, as well as a struggling and overburdened health service. Is this a surprise? Cause and effect is not beyond the whit of our political leaders, surely? It seems that at last all three main political leaders are taking the issue of immigration seriously, now that other parties have highlighted the thoughts of the electorate. Tom Jackson Stockport | More houses, school places, benefits, are necessary, as well as a struggling and overburdened health service. Is this a surprise? Cause and effect is not beyond the whit of our political leaders, surely? It seems that at last all three main political leaders are taking the issue of immigration seriously, now that other parties have highlighted the thoughts of the electorate. Tom Jackson Stockport |
| • There is plenty to attack and good reason for Sarah Teather to do so (Ex-minister attacks plot to make Britain 'hostile' to immigrants, 13 July). Teather says she credits the Liberal Democrats with "achieving the impossible" on some issues, such as outlawing the detention of immigrant children. | • There is plenty to attack and good reason for Sarah Teather to do so (Ex-minister attacks plot to make Britain 'hostile' to immigrants, 13 July). Teather says she credits the Liberal Democrats with "achieving the impossible" on some issues, such as outlawing the detention of immigrant children. |
| This is sadly not true. The detention of children has not been outlawed – 216 children were detained last year, according to government statistics. | This is sadly not true. The detention of children has not been outlawed – 216 children were detained last year, according to government statistics. |
| Nick Clegg described the detention of children as "state sponsored cruelty". He promised to end it but it was just rebranded. G4S and Barnardo's were awarded contracts to run a new detention facility for families with children. | Nick Clegg described the detention of children as "state sponsored cruelty". He promised to end it but it was just rebranded. G4S and Barnardo's were awarded contracts to run a new detention facility for families with children. |
| It was perplexing that Teather and Clegg accepted flowers and thanks at the Lib Dem conference in September for ending the detention of children. | It was perplexing that Teather and Clegg accepted flowers and thanks at the Lib Dem conference in September for ending the detention of children. |
| G4S were found to have used force against children and a pregnant woman. Last week a jury found that a man who died at the hands of G4S during deportation was unlawfully killed. | G4S were found to have used force against children and a pregnant woman. Last week a jury found that a man who died at the hands of G4S during deportation was unlawfully killed. |
| Detention can have a devastating effect on children and should be ended immediately. Far from being "impossible", it is entirely possible – just stop doing it, and save millions of pounds. Emma Mlotshwa Co-ordinator, Medical Justice | Detention can have a devastating effect on children and should be ended immediately. Far from being "impossible", it is entirely possible – just stop doing it, and save millions of pounds. Emma Mlotshwa Co-ordinator, Medical Justice |
| • There is a sting in the story about Ayaka Sakurai, whom Grayson Perry describes as "something special" in designers (G2, 8 July). | • There is a sting in the story about Ayaka Sakurai, whom Grayson Perry describes as "something special" in designers (G2, 8 July). |
| Ayaka, from Japan, has just finished the second year of her degree at Central St Martins. Before that, she took an architecture degree in this country. The Home Office then allowed her to enrol for the fashion course on a student visa but the government has now changed the rules and is trying to make her leave without finishing her course. | Ayaka, from Japan, has just finished the second year of her degree at Central St Martins. Before that, she took an architecture degree in this country. The Home Office then allowed her to enrol for the fashion course on a student visa but the government has now changed the rules and is trying to make her leave without finishing her course. |
| This country has profited from the tens of thousands of pounds she has paid in tuition fees. She's a prize-winning student. Our universities need overseas students' fees, but you'd never know it. What message are we trying to convey? Perhaps "study in Australia"? Christina Baron Wells, Somerset | This country has profited from the tens of thousands of pounds she has paid in tuition fees. She's a prize-winning student. Our universities need overseas students' fees, but you'd never know it. What message are we trying to convey? Perhaps "study in Australia"? Christina Baron Wells, Somerset |
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