Dear Sir, In last week’s Newton News, two Northern Labour MEPs insinuated that the democratic vote to Leave the EU has spawned public hatred against immigrants. It has not! Also, how do they explain the outbreak of anti-semitism within the Labour Party upon the election of the Palestinian supporter Jeremy Corbyn? Was this caused by the Brexit vote or the election of Jeremy Corbyn giving his supporters licence to voice their hitherto hidden anti-semitism?
I believe that, if there is an increase in people being more outspoken about immigration, they are doing so because, prior to the Brexit Referendum, the political elite tried to make it ‘Political Incorrect’ to discuss immigration. Indeed, during the Referendum Remain campaigners accused Leave supporters of being racist! Any increase in anti-immigrant sentiment is a backlash by voters who fear that they are not going to get the LEAVE vote via. democratic means.
As a democrat, without a racist bone in my body, I found this accusation of racism abhorrent, as clearly did the majority of the electorate. I would therefore suggest that the population at large is no more or less anti-migrant than it was before the Leave vote, however it clearly is more against mass, uncontrolled immigration, especially from the EU. The MEPs also mentioned German students asking which pubs in Newcastle are safe to speak German in? Why don’t they drink and speak German in their Student’s Union where the beer is much cheaper? In this matter, again, I fear that the ‘Politically Correct’ brigade may have contributed.
At a recent fly-past of the Battle of Britain Flight, the Lancaster Bomber was not included because it was thought, by our political elite, that it may upset our German friends as it coincided with the anniversary of a Lancaster Bomber raid on a German city. Many I spoke to at the time thought that this was an insult to the memory of Wartime Bomber Command and its contribution to our eventual victory. Unfortunately, the fact is there is a long history of warring and hatred between us and Germany and currently Leavers do not trust Germany to allow their EU partners to achieve the best possible Brexit for all. We have only been allowed to talk about and learn about the scale of, and the effects of, mass EU immigration on our economy and our lives. The Remainers still say that it is good for our economy.
This is nonsense! A home grown worker who works and pays taxes and spends his earnings (and in-work benefits, family allowance etc.) in his local community, contributes more to the local economy than does an economic migrant who sends most of his earnings (some subsidised by UK taxpayers) back home to the EU to be spent there. Our local and national economies suffer, and not even the taxes levied here are being spent within our economy. Let our MEPs campaign to get us out of Europe and then we can invite who we want and need to work here. These migrants will be welcomed with open arms and will have the comforting knowledge that they are wanted and needed. Students from Germany can be included! Alastair P.G. Wels
