DEAR Editor – I enjoyed reading Heather McNeillis’s letter (Country remains a beacon of hope, November 23) in which she castigates Alan Amos for his views on the immigration system.

However, from accusing him of over-emphasising the responsibilities of government, she then progresses into a diatribe of failings, which she attributes to the capitalist policies of the ruling Conservative party.

In doing this she is as guilty as Mr Amos of exaggeration.

She paints a picture of a country in dire straits, where poverty, sickness and corruption feed a violent society. Where pollution threatens every aspect of life.

The country is a failure and by implication the Green Party is the only solution.

How dare Mr Amos express his views or point a finger!

Immigration is a complex issue, which is exacerbated by the very limited size of the UK.

A look at the statistics gives an indication of the magnitude of the problem; fifty years ago there were an estimated 3 million immigrants in this country, representing a little over six per cent of the population, today there are some 10 million immigrants comprising more than 14 per cent of the population.

Such increases are simply unsustainable and therefore it is essential that some effective system of control is exercised.

There is a trend of opinion rife in this country, sadly led by the liberal left and encouraged by the media, which would have us believe that our nation is about to implode.

According to them we are the pariahs of Europe and mocked by the world.

Yet, every day, thousands of illegal immigrants (many of them risking their lives crossing the Channel) pour into this awful place.

Is it simply because the social welfare benefits are so generous? Surely not.

Heather McNeillis is right to conclude that the UK remains a beacon of hope, but neglects to say that its historic success in a troubled world stems from free enterprise, stable government and pragmatism.

Democracy holds sway and anarchistic demonstrators of any persuasion (of which recently we have seen far too many) must not be permitted to overrule the rights of the majority, which overwhelmingly demands a halt to illegal immigration.

Mick Richards

Worcester