DEAR EDITOR -- A local paper normally concentrates on local issues, quite rightly.

From time to time however, national issues arise, that are of such overwhelming importance to us, that a local discussion is very much needed.

I hope you agree with me that we presently have such a state of affairs.

There are currently two issues confronting us as a nation, which put all others in the shade, by their deadly urgency, because of their potential for our destruction as a nation, and as a nation state.

We also have a government which, far from fighting the twin threats, have been systematically working to make matters worse, secure in its huge majority, and in its capacity to mislead enough of the people for much of the time.

The first of these two issues is continuing mass immigration. Since coming into power in 1997 the government have presided over and encouraged a huge increase in immigration, in particular by issuing many more work permits, by failing to control so-called asylum seekers, and allowing them to disappear into the pool of illegal immigrants.

As a result, England's population is now increasing by some 250,000 immigrants every year. Every ten years this works out as the population of the West Midland county. Already an over crowded island; further immigration is placing a severe strain on our environment, social fabric, and public services, not least the police force, which is struggling to cope with the diverse criminality of so many differing ethnic groups.

We now have so many communities that we are in danger of losing our coherence as a community altogether.

The second threat to our nation comes with the government's planned acceptance of the proposed EU constitution, which is aimed at the final establishment of Europe as a nation.

The Europe Minister, Peter Hain, claims it is just a tidying-up exercise (perhaps like the "needs tidying" of a clapped out car) and that the UK will negotiate opt-outs and exemptions.

In reality it is the culmination of a long line of treaties, all of which have eroded the power of national governments, as power has been shifted to Brussels. If the process continues, we shall lose control of financial policy, the police force, our justice system and the Armed Forces. All this is set to happen unless we, the ordinary people, decide it will not.

There is an immediate need to write letters of protest to the government, and to support the call for a national referendum on the EU constitution.

After all, if we are going to abolish ourselves as a nation, should we not be allowed to do it by voting directly? I respect people with differing views who consider internationalism a great ideal, but I trust most would also welcome a democratic freedom of choice, clearly expressed, rather than government by stealth which we currently have.

John Coleman

Chairman

UKIP Bromsgrove