Refugees and Immigrants
Sir: Mr Bramwell (letters, 21 July) is surely right in making the point that the burden of uncontrolled immigration fallson those least able to bear it, but confuses the argument by appearing to lump indiscriminately together refugees with immigrants. For one thing a conscious intake of refugees (such as the Ugandan Asians) seems to evoke reception and absorption arrangements not given to uncontrolled large-scale immigration — and this is the problem.
I have lived for 31 years in the NE London borough which prompted Mrs Thatcher's remark that people felt they were swamped by immigrants. From doorstep canvassing and other interviews it is clear that many native English voted for the National Front in protest at the indifference of the politicians to their native problems but would not, and did not, do so again because they recognised that NF policies were wrong and detestable. Ruefully, therefore, they realise that the problems of thepoor, who are always with us, are not today a trendy subject, so they resign themselves to the apathy, discrimination and hypocrisy of those superior persons who preach what others must suffer. P. Martin-Smith Llauro, 66300 Thuir, France
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