SIR – I find the reply by Mr [Carl] Mason of the BNP to my letter ‘Come down to the job centre with me’ (Worcester News, March 20) to be most encouraging.

When one is criticised by an organisation such as the one he is proud to advertise being a member of, you know you are 100 per cent on the right lines.

I wonder if those other letter writers who criticised my letter ‘Nasty tone to letters on migrant workers’ (Worcester News, March 6) are quite so comfortable at being fellow travellers with this particular brand of hate-based single issue politics.

The extent to which his views are popular and accepted is clearly reflected in the number of votes his party manages to poll – though at least he is fortunate enough to live in a country that will allow him to express his opinions no matter how odious they might be.

As to his comment regarding what he says is my desire to lock up people who disagree with my viewpoint, I would say that he will find that to be, historically, the prerogative of the minorities of the extreme right and the extreme left rather than that of the majority of us who sit quite comfortably (and, regrettably at times like this, silently) in the middle.

Our local mainstream party leaders should hang their heads in shame at their silence on this issue.

The Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democratic parties should give a lead rather than trying to play the immigration card for the benefits of their own careers and ambitions.

Play with fire and you will get burnt.

Politics built on ignorance and hatred has no place in British society no matter how many flags you wrap yourself in.

TIM PALMER
Worcester