When immigration becomes a serious problem and vote mover, it will be way too late to do anything about it. Indeed, it is probably too late now - which is probably why nothing is being done.

Voters are notoriously selfish, and it needs enough of them to be painfully affected before they will react. Up to that point they will bumble along, looking sideways at the others to see if they are going to say something first.

The mystery is, though, why so many people want to come to such a third rate country as the UK, with its high prices and taxes, ever lower quality of services and a total absence of useful manufacturing.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

Pundits and politicians fail to realise that polls don't count on this: we are all trained to tick the politically correct boxes on this, or be branded as 'racists'.
Beware you pollsters, there really is a deep sense of wrong about this mass repopulation of England and the cracks and pressures it is causing to social fabric.
Most people don't like it, and want proper training for our youth to become well paid plumbers etc, rather than be ushered into asbos and the benefit culture.
And the 'marriage' route into the UK is a scam and a cruel practice, begun by Labour abolishing the primary purpose rule.

Tom, Wantage, UK

'Mentions of asylum seekers have dropped'...why? It's racist to mention it. Labour has cleverly diverted migration talk towards plumbers, not people who do not practice birth control nor speak the language nor want to integrate at all.

Fati, Dalston, UK

When immigration becomes a serious problem and vote mover, it will be way too late to do anything about it. Indeed, it is probably too late now - which is probably why nothing is being done.

Voters are notoriously selfish, and it needs enough of them to be painfully affected before they will react. Up to that point they will bumble along, looking sideways at the others to see if they are going to say something first.

The mystery is, though, why so many people want to come to such a third rate country as the UK, with its high prices and taxes, ever lower quality of services and a total absence of useful manufacturing.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

Immigration has earned a symbolism rather tlike the EU constitution. The public are convinced that the political classes (and some political commentators like Peter Riddell) are determined to insist that they know what's best - whether it's an unwanted nanny state in health and safety, or an unwanted free-for-all in late night drinking - and just won't listen. Much of the fear of immigration is not so much economic as a fear of changing the character and fabric of the country... people still idealise the country with thoughts of warm beer, cricket on the green, church bells, cycling to evensong , and the britannia on the reverse of our coins etc. The presence of majorities in our inner cities of people looking different from ourselves is a visible sign and reminer that the nature of the country is being chased away by multi-culturalism and political correctness.

As you say, it's 'code' for a wider malaise. It may just be a dog-whistle but the politicos would do well to listen.

Philippa Pirie, london, england

I wish you were right, but I'm afraid I'm quite certain that you aren't.

edward green, Upminster, England

I can't agree with the gist of this article. I and many friends (including a GP) have come to the conclusion that Lib-Lab-Con is essentially one Party more concerned with sustaining itself as a political entity (i.e career politics) than it is in concerning itself with the 'national interest'. Any vote for them is now a wasted vote. I and many others will become persistent BNP voters from now on. It's called voting habits, and voting habits are changing.

Paul Williams , Egham, UK

The problem behind these statistics : many of us have been wanted to express pro BNP views, but not to anyone looking vaguely official . That's why it is a talking point amongst mates at work, friends and family and not someone in a suit who might be "Thought Police".

What this reflects is the unsustainable amount of external control needed to keep a lid on things in the UK.

Johnd., leeds, England