er, right, d from Liverpool.
And what's all that got to do with this particular topic? - absolutely nothing. In fact its a good example of the nonsense people think and talk, making BNP! BNP! accusations being another.

Joe, Manchester,

yes housing is allocated on the basis of need, so you better breed - waiting until you can afford a family is not rewarded. And hurry, because there isn't anything being built BTW, why hasn't anyone mentioned this is about London, plenty of coucncil homes elsewhere, just no work.

george, london, london

If Ms Hodges' language is that o the BMP, then lead me to them. It sounds sensible, easy to understand, and fair, and fairness is all that most people ask.

helen, norwich,

Margaret Hodge is absolutely right, and shows herself to be in touch and in tune with ordinary British people. It also shows how out of touch her detracters are, and the contempt with which they hold British working class people. If the BNP are echoeing the sentiments of the man in the street, then Labour needs to do a rethink and remember those who voted them in - and hopefully will vote them out at the next election.

Donald Morrison, Lochgilphead, Scotland

I totally agree with the comment made by Ms Hodge, Priority should be given to persons who have worked and paid National Insurance, Income Tax, & Council Tax,
We after all could not go to other countries like Nigeria, or Romania etc, and expect to get free housing and benefits paid when we had made not contribution to that country.

The U.K . is attracting new migrants due to the fact they get a FREE RIDE at the indigenous British families expense.

Baz, Kirkcaldy, Scotland

'The New East End' a highly-acclaimed book written by Geoff Dench, Michael Young & Kate Gavron is essential reading as it puts this highly sensitive topic in proper perspective. Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality praises their evidence-based report which confirms everything which Margaret Hodge 'reveals'.
Livingstone and Johnson both try to burnish their 'diversity' credentials for the benefit of their electoral chances by, as usal, attempting to shut down the debate by labelling Hodge as racist.
It is not racism - it's realism.

Rick, London, England

The media, and indeed Alan and colleagues, have taken this out of context. However, they are essentially correct. Housing should be on a needs basis, not time served. However, the majority of Brits don't see "need" on a level playing field, one citizen's minimal need being seen as more important than a particularly needy asylum seeker, solely because of birth location. The way Hodge worded herself was unfortunate, but it was the words of the majority, and we shouldn't condemn her for this. We should instead try to educate the masses, and indeed Ms. Hodge, so that in future, they see that Alan, Ken Livingstone and Jon Cruddas are measured, sensible and ultimately right.

Andrew MacFarlane, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Alan Johnson is the atypical social climber. When head of the Post Office UCW we knew he wasn't really a man of the people, just the usual userer. I f he gets to be Deputy of this Nairdowell New Labour, I will never contemplate voting for Labour ever again.

Margaret Hodge however seems far more suited to be further up the New Labour greasy pole, all power to her elbow.

K Lockwood, Bradford,

Many immigrants work a lot harder than those born here, and that is beneficial to the whole country, immigrants often have ambition and see the potential of this country whereas many people born here are lazy and don't want to work, don't want to change anything and expect everything to be easy. So I am sick of people attacking immigrants, if it wasn't for immigrants this country would be struggling to survive; immigrants rebuilt this country after the war, immigrants make this country fresh and exciting. Natives should learn from the new comers instead of being afraid of the competition and this country will be a lot stronger when we all learn from each other. That is what sets us apart from other countries and that is what will make this country a place to be admired and respected.

d, Liverpool, UK

Here we go - name calling again. A tactic used when a person has no logical answer to the problems being posed. Margaret Hodge has warned about the growth of the BNP in the area she represents. She was told to be quiet then too - but this won't go away and trying to smear her for making what she thinks are true remarks is symbolic of what is wrong in our society today.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

There are many countries that adopt systems that give priority to the need's of their indigenous residents over that of immigrants. None of these are run by far-right governments, and I've not ever heard Alan Johnston pass comment on them.

Therefore, to accuse Margaret Hodge's of purely using the language of the BNP is very misleading and, quite honestly, some people may find Alan's & Jon's comments offensive.

As far as 'checking her facts first'.... My friend has worked in housing for many years and agrees that the indigenous population is descrimated against. They are mostly labelled homeless at home and their needs are considered less of those of an large immigrating family, so the pavement is usually their home.

Ian, Manchester, UK

This is Alan Johnson trying to gain some political points, even at the expense of his own party.

It's PC gone mad, that you cant even debate these issues, or your immediately labelled a racist, or bnp voter.

Alan Johnson should be ashamed of himself!

Arthur, Newcastle,

No, the BNP have adopted an obvious and legitimate issue as their own, which admittedly has a certain delicacy to it, and they are gaining popularity because governments are too cowardly to take it on.

I get sick of this nonsense: political point scoring and trying to tar people with the term 'BNP' as a term of abuse. I see *some* value in what Labour says. I see *some* value in what Con says. I see *some* value in what the BNP say - irrespective of, and irrelevant for, the questionable aspects of said political party.

Joe, Manchester,

How Dare these people deny what everyone knows to be true? How dare they tell us we are basically stupid and need them to think for us?
Hodge is telling it like it is, so let's "shoot the messenger" and as for Livingstone's guff about community relations, what about MY community being swamped by immigrants? Proof if proof were needed that the feelings and concerns of the people of Britain are of no interest to these self seeking political traitors to this country.
They are interested only in aiding and abetting those who know that they WILL get preferential treatment, and therefore vote for them. A clear definition of treason.
Johnson, Cruddas and Livingstone do NOT represent the wishes or the feelings of the people they are paid to represent. They seem to forget that they work for us. Are we surprised that there is no evidence to prove that mass unregulated immigration is not affecting housing? No because the government will spin any figures to prove what it wants.

D. Wallace, Birmingham, UK

Margaret Hodge is telling it how it is. If immigrants arrive here with a certain number of children and sick or elderly relatives, they will go top of the housing list. This is a known fact - enquire with any local housing authority. There is nothing racist involved, just plain common sense and the majority os immigrants would expect to go at the bottom of the list. There are many Brtish families in other european countries, especially in Spain and Portugal who have no realistic chance of renting social housing. Indiginous familes will always come first. If their governments decided digfferently they would be committing political suicide and there would be a general uproar. British families emigrating to other countries know the score and are prepared accordingly. Why should the UK be any different. Get real people.

JohnB, Malaga, Spain

This is illustrative of everything that's wrong with this country at the moment. How can it possibly be racist to suggest that priority for council / social housing be given to English nationals? The majority of people in this country feel the same way but most are unwilling to voice their concerns over this and other issues relating to immigration as the over-vociferous, socialist idiots will immediately brand them as racist.

If people in Ms Hodge’s constituency are tempted to vote for the BNP then that is purely a reaction to current policy. By highlighting her constituents frustrations is in no way a legitimisation of BNP policies. Obviously it is easier to villainise someone who points this out rather than actually address the underlying problems which give rise to the frustrations which provide the temptation in the first place.

Simon, Southampton,

I have to say that Mrs Hodge's recent comments on social housing seem very reasonable, well done for speaking out on the issue!

Anthony, clapham, london

What Ms. Hodge says is perfectly right, myself, father, grandfather, and before them have paid tax and national insurance contributions all their life, we and our families should have preference for housing etc., I find it outrageous that the government is so afraid of asylm seekers and migrants, they are being let into the country without even medical tests. It is no wonder that the NHS is in trouble look at the millions more that are relying on it. As for housing why should new migrants be more entitled than the original British people.

A. Archer. , Holyhead, , Anglesey, Wales.

Good on Patricia Hodge for speaking plainly and fairly. This is not BNP language at all. Why shouldn't people who are indiginous in the UK and pay taxes (and God knows we pay) have priority for the housing they need. To do otherwise is opening to floodgates to people who see the UK as somewhere you can get free money and a free house. No other country in Europe would allow this.

CA, Manchester, UK

If Ms Hodges' language is that o the BMP, then lead me to them. It sounds sensible, easy to understand, and fair, and fairness is all that most people ask.

helen, norwich,

I'm a bit confused by what Margaret Hodge had ment when she said British families should have high priority.

Imo, British families (fathers or mothers) over 16-18 years of age, who are/were born here, should be first on the housing list, regardless of their race/ethnicity.

Mohammed, London, UK

This is illustrative of everything that's wrong with this country at the moment. How can it possibly be racist to suggest that priority for council / social housing be given to English nationals? The majority of people in this country feel the same way but most are unwilling to voice their concerns over this and other issues relating to immigration as the over-vociferous, socialist idiots will immediately brand them as racist.

If people in Ms Hodge’s constituency are tempted to vote for the BNP then that is purely a reaction to current policy. By highlighting her constituents frustrations is in no way a legitimisation of BNP policies. Obviously it is easier to villainise someone who points this out rather than actually address the underlying problems which give rise to the frustrations which provide the temptation in the first place.

Simon, Southampton,

When is someone going to be allowed to articulate the fears of the indigenous population without being accused of racism?

It is a real fear and to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet because of the present PC climate is building up a resentment that could explode later.

Alan, Oxford,

To be honest I think she got it a bit wrong. She should have put national insurance contributions at the top of her list not at the bottom. What is the difference between a British born person who has never had a job since the day they left school twenty years ago and an incoming immigrant? The immigrant hasn't wasted 20 years of taxpayers money! By this thought process the people at the bottom of the list should be indigenous people who have never bothered to get off their backsides and move to get a job. Let's sort our existing and proven lazy people out before we start setting on those who are at least getting off their backsides from some other country. And when oh when will lucrative non-jobs such as those writing for friends or families newspaper columns be open to Johnny pleb rather than all the boring Cynthias and Jeremy's the British press has at present. Maybe someone sitting on their lardy backside for the last 20 years could do a better job of these given half a chance

John, Dundee, UK

I agree wholeheartedly with Allan and Ken Livingstone, that the housing should be allocated on a needs basis rather than "time served". However what they are failing to realise, and Margaret Hodge has grasped, albiet in unfortunately bad terms, is that a majority of Brits seem to view need on unequal levels. That is to say, their objectively small need is greater than that of a particularly needy asylum seeker, because they were born here. Now I am in no position to tell the average brit how to think or feel. Far from it. However, let's not demonise Ms Hodge for saying what the people think. Rather, let's persuade the people to challenge their thinking, and align themselves with Ken, Jon and Allan in their more sensible, credible ideas.

Andrew MacFarlane, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Alan Johnson and comrade Livingstone better pray they never lose their cushy well-paid jobs and need Council or Housing Association housing because I,and many people I know as English nationals are blatently put to the end of the queue ahead of Asylum-seekers and refugeees,who in the Councils eyes are more needy of housing-and thats a fact.

Steve, COVENTRY, west midlands