When we fought to hold back the invasion of OUR COUNTRY by Germany under Hitler it was called "Our finest hour". Now when we call for the same action to hold back MASS IMMIGRATION we are called RACISTS, Thank you b'lair and nulabour for masterminding the distruction of MY COUNTRY,

Hideous white , Stockton on Tees, ENGLAND (for now)

I live in Springburn,the labour seat for Micheal Martin M.P. Speaker of the House of Commons.It is the third most deprived area in the U.K. and has the largest amount of Asylum Seekers living here in Scotland.I have resided in Springburn for 14 years with my own private property but have unfortunatly been forced to sell up and leaveMy reasons for doing this is for my daughter who is soon to be starting primary school which boasts about having 19 different tongues spoken in one school.Apparantly the teachers are doing their best to teach these kids spoken english which in turn is affecting the other scottish kids education.Its a sad state of affairs that a hard working person like myself has all the expense and uprooting to a new area for the sake of giving my daughter a decent start in life.Iaccept that Asylum Seekers have also had it hard but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth whenyou are forced to leave an area which you were once settled in.

ANON, Glasgow,

I live in Camden, Central London. I have seen over the last few years a dramatic change in the demography to the point where there are demands now from the 'muslim community' for a mosque and Islamic centre which the council through a community grant will fund using taxpayer's money while, I may add, money for kids special needs is being cut by £40K. I am afraid the ideal of a melting pot is not happening as I can see that community doesn't want to integrate but have it's own 'ghetto'.
State and religion should should be kept separate but I can see this leading to all kinds of communal prolems and I for one as a taxpayer am not happy to pay for it.

clem alford, London, UK

The situation is very tense in parts of London and other cities, sadly future conflict is inevitable as white native Brits start fighting bad against the discrimination they are now facing.

Steven , London, UK

Is it really the case that Australia can't find enough chefs and hairdressers from within its own population?

Barry, Wallington, UK

So. The Labour Govt's special subject for today will be "The screamingly bloody obvious".

But will there be any change? No. Labour has been too deeply committed to a laissez faire approach to immigration to suddenly reverse course. Having spent 20 years inside the Party there will be plenty of activists and backbench MPs screaming 'racist' over their cornflakes this morning.

H, London,

Only a few weeks ago, it was revealed (Source UN) that Britain's population is set (planned?) to increase to c70million by 2050. This roughly equates to 250,000 new immigrants per year for the next 40 years.

Are these all now to be skilled workers? I hope someone is joining the dots on this one.

David, Darlington,

Sorry to say it, but when people were saying that immigration was too high over ten years back and that settlement policies were ineffective, only to be barracked as racist, who were the idiots calling them so? People who weren't part of the communities where the unfortunate immigrants were sent to. Has it strengthened our country? No. We may have a strong economy but I for one no longer feel British in relation to what Britain has become. I don't really care about the country and I am not alone. I am also 30 years old so not excessively old

John, Shrewsbury, England

Labour are slow learners; the vast majority of the English public have been grumbling about this for years, but grumbling quietly because of Labour’s anti-racism laws that have made any dissent on this subject seem like a crime. This country is full, the housing shortage is causing problems, the public services are over-stretched, the public transport infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of passengers, land is short and society is struggling to come to terms with the influx of so many people from so many different cultures.

All of this is so obviously wrong for the country, so why has it taken Labour so long to react with a good idea? Someone more cynical than I might think it was politically motivated perhaps?

Ian, Birmingham, England

What a surprise: the Government has found in its great wisdom that (of course, what else?) immigration is to blame for their mismanagement of the NHS, social services, etc etc etc.

Soon they will announce that immigration was responsible for the hosepipe ban last summer, as well

Mike London, London,

We have to bear in mind that a very large percentage on economic migrants have only one goal. To improve their standard of living. On reaching Britain and finding that getting a job, house, benefits etc are now much more difficult. The migrants become desperate. They have spent large amounts of time, money and effort to reach Britain both legally or illegally. Once here they will find it very hard to leave empty handed. Hence the strong link between immigrants and crime. Many immigrants have no interest in British. They do not even know what being British is. They only wish to life a better life and its their desperate measures to do this that the real problem begins.

Duncan Williams, Accra, Ghana

The unprecedented mass immigration presided over by the present government has inflicted grave and lasting damage on our culture and society. This was both predictable and predicted, but the government went ahead with its irresponsible and arrogant policy without regard for the country and people. For the minister to say, after the event, that immigration has "deeply unsettled the country" is not merely disingenous - it is reminiscent of the contrition of a psychopath. The policy, and harm, were deliberate, and cannot now be undone.

Stu G, London,

Re Bill Linton. Define fair shares please?

Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Texas

It has been deliberate hasn't it, encouraging immigration, to keep wages down, so the poor remain poor. A lot of the social problems in this country are due to unskilled immigrants, who, with little education, have difficulty blending in.

kt, london,

It is crystal clear that the horrendous immigration policies and shambolic procedures of the Labour Government were chiefly responsible for 'gifting' thousands of votes to the BNP in the May 2006 elections, thus causing the election of BNP councillors in certain areas. Further, continued membership of the EU precludes the UK from controlling the huge numbers of immigrants from EU countries.

Britain cannot accept this astronomic level of immigration without it having a retrograde effect on our traditions and hard-won freedoms and liberties. It is a truism to say that the Labour Government isn't fit for purpose, and Britain will be BETTER OFF OUT of the EU, so we can take control of immigration at our borders and Ports of Entry. Indeed, if we had a managed withdrawal of British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan they could be redeployed on such duties here in Britain.

Cllr Keith Standring, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK

Quite right Annie, a very worthy chap many years ago warned us of just this situation and its results, he was banished to Northern Ireland for his trouble. It didn't suit the powers that be then, they don't care now.
Remember him..? his name was Enoch.

Dave, Groningen, Netherlands

Anne: It's not today's pamplet that was produced in 2002 - that was the Home Office report on the dispersal of asylum seekers.

Rob, Belfast, UK

To Bill Linton,
Your comment was hilarious! But seriously, how is 'greed' a motive when the poor are getting poorer because of immigration? I don't understand?
Secondly, could you define 'racism', please?
Your comment was so trite and ill conceived.

Georgina, Islington, UK

I wish people would stop talking about this and actually do something. What we need is a leader - someone who's not afraid to talk tough and demand results - someone who has the energy, power and commitment to sort this country out and help us find out what its like to be proud to be British again.

I'm graduating from University this year, I'm British through and through but I don't want to bring my kids up here - there's nothing multi-cultural about Britain anymore, not when I walk down a street and feel victimised for being white. I'll be applying to emigrate to Austrailia as soon as possible

Jo, Harrow,

Mr Byrne knows full well that more immigrants will be needed to build and service the Olympics and the only qualification needed will be 'able and willing to work'.

Paul McCloskey, London, England

Begin deporting all those who advocate extremist violence in the name of intolerant religion and you will mitigate much of the harm done by immigration while retaining most of the benefits. Those who come here without committing themselves to core liberal values such as tolerance come solely for material advantage, and are accordingly parasites. Boot them.

Maynard, London, UK

Opposition to immigration boils down to one of two things: racism or greed.

People are just people - what does where they were born matter? - unless you are a racist. We have more than our fair share of the world's wealth here than they do in most other parts of the world (that's the main reason people want to come here), and the anti-immigration lobby wants to keep it that way.

Waht happened to the traditional British idea of fair shares for all?

Bill Linton, London,

What good has mass immigration been for UK (well, England, as most come to England)? The only thing good is the potential for a bigger work force to pay more taxes (although most of them get their tax back as they say they leave the country after 2-3 years – then come back & the cycle repeats itself so they’re always cheating the system). The negative points: They over-burden our welfare state & public services. Schools, hospitals & doctors surgeries are full of them. Police are bogged down dealing with them. Housing is at bursting point. It seems that the E. Europeans & blacks are at the root of a high percentage of crime, particularly violent crime & many blacks ways are bad for family life. How many fathers are missing from their family homes – there are proportionately more single black mothers bringing up their kids alone than the indigenous population. Why are there no criminality & health checks done on immigrants before entering. They now tip the balance in our voting system.

michael pickles, bournemouth, England

So the Government are finally starting to realise that immigrants are having an impact on our housing, schooling and the NHS.

I live in South London and had to go to A&E one evening in an emergency. I sat in a waiting room full of other nationalities but I was the only white British person there. The huge strain that it is putting on the NHS is ridiculous. As i recall we fought hard to have this kind of system available to us but it is now impossible for us to access it as it has been flooded by legal and illegal immigrants.

I fear for the BNP party taking over power in this country but the average British person is becoming frustrated and angry, and they are gaining seats fast.

We need to address this issue quickly and put a stop on allowing people so freely into this country.

Holly, London,

Oh dear! Can't you just tell elections are in the air. Any tough talk on immigration by any Government ministers (or any of the major parties for that matter) will melt away like morning mist in the summer sun. For at least another year when the BNP challenge will have to be countered again.

Cllr Chris Cooke, Tamworth, United Kingdom

"Large-scale immigration has damaged the poorest communities and deeply unsettled the country" .........Have they really only just realised this?!!!!!

AC, Cannington, Somerset

This policy of letting anyone into the UK is not only beginning to change the demography of the UK, but also the delicate balance that only the UK can boast about and muticulturalism that thrives in the UK. Its time we started to say "no". Other European countries do it, why cant we? Its time to start kicking out those who have overstayed their welcome and those who have managed to sneak in under false pretences. The latest influx from Eastern Europe is not helping. Does anyone in government predict what will happen once Bulgaria and Albania join the EU? This has to stop. And giving out handouts to everyone who is not a British National must also stop. Come on UK, wake up...look after your own nationals for a change.. all the other countries in the world look after their own..you should too!!

TR, Leicester, England

THE french are not silly they also understand the problems
caused by mass migration and that's what it is .Why doest
someone in government get up and say enough is enough
our NHS and welfare system is at breaking point already
ask our nurses and doctors the TAX PAYER is being taxed to death come on MPs get a grip think of the future something has to be done ,close the gates lock the
doors at least for the next 10 years ,AND I am not a member off any racist party but I DO UNDERSTAND
ECONMICS and its not possible to sustain the increase .

george william taylor, HULL, UK

If I could move to a country, work for two or three years,without the hassle of having to learn their language, and having all the benefits of working in that country (in the form of tax credits) then move back to my native land and buy a nice big house and essentially retire, I'd jump at the chance! The problem isn't so much illegal immigration anymore (though its nice to know the governments finally trying to act on it, 10 yrs late) , it's mass migration from eastern europe.

pro-european, Belfast, UK

We told you all this before the latest wave of immigration took place, but the middle-class metropolitans, desperate for cheap, forelock-tugging servants, snootily dismissed us as Sun reading racists. It has not just affected the poor by any means, but the poor cannot take their skills abroad like the rest of us have done. At least Australia and other countries have benefited from the wave of skilled-up Britons who got tired of carrying the world on their backs to salve the consciences of the well-heeled, middle-class Left. I now salve my own conscience by sending charity money back to England to help the poor indigenous population.

Kit , Australia,

Will be Romanians and Bulgarians punished again for too many legal and illegal immigrants entering UK?

Dacia Felix, London, UK

Oh dear, is it election time again! New Labour attempting to garner support by appearing to address public concern over their insane immigration policies. They have continued on their merry way, swamping the country with illegal immigrants during the past ten years, ignoring all pleas for control as being racist. Now they have sensed the colossul extent of public discontent they think a bit of spin will get them in the nation's good books again. It won't!

B. J. Carroll, Hong Kong, China

This is nothing more than an attempt to very belatedly convince us that something is being done to deal with this enormous problem.

The proposals are all very well but I do not see how they will give the government power to deport suspected terrorists, failed asylum seekers etc to countries less 'liberal' than ours, where they might be badly treated, including most of Africa and the Middle East?

There exist at present tight controls over immigration linked to family ties, skills levels, investment etc but these controls are totally irrelevant in the areas of greatest concern.

Nick Hill, London,

Far too little, far too late. The government simply does not care about it's own people just as long as 'the economy' is all right.

The points system should apply to all potential immigrants, including EU citizens, such as Poland, which has the greatest effect on this country's poor in terms of competition for housing, jobs and other resources.

Kevin Smith, Watford, England

Too little too late. Our country has been irrevocably been changed for the worse forever. I fear only the BNP will be able to change the situation with all the inherent problems that will cause. Roll on the next election that could well be Bliar's legacy. Turning this country from being kind and generous into a far right wingers paradise.

Stephanie, Londn, England

Really! Good for new Labour working that one out 10 years to late!

R James, Bristol, UK

So the Labour Government have finally had to admit that what the BNP has been saying for all these years is, in fact, true!

Hrothgar, Schaumburg, IL, USA

Rethinking Immigration and Integration: A New Centre-Left Agenda is a 190-page 'pamphlet' published by Policy Network.

I have just downloaded it and will read it carefully to understand the study written by 13 international contributors.

If the wo/man-in-the-street is to get to grips with important issues such as immigration, worthy tomes such as this should be more readily available to the public. (The report was produced in 2002 but only released under FoI Act last month)

I believe the current problems with violent crime is closely linked to the immigration problem, which Liam Byrne rightly claims has 'deeply unsettled the country'.

- see www.progressive-governance.net/events

Annie, Bath, UK