Refugees (From The Northern Echo)

He fails to mention most countries he refers to are especially larger than England France is more than twice as big but has the same population as the UK. England is more densely populated than China, this because of China's vast size. I got this off a tv programme about China and the commentator wasn't a right wing type but someone like Mr Winstanley. He should be in Guinness book of records for getting most letters published in a newspaper than anyone else.

China also has about a sixth the GDP per capita of the UK, which I suspect is rather more important.

"Not all asylum seekers are fleeing from war or persecution; some are trying to escape extreme poverty". Then they are not asylum seekers. They are economic migrants and should not be allowed to enter the UK>

Winstanley fails to point out that 1 in 6 jail birds werent born in the UK or that 20% of the remaing prison population are from minorities.
The truth is Immigration=CRIME.
(home office figures released under the freedom of information)
Winstanley if you are so keen on immigrants why do you live in Englands Whitest County.Hypocrite springs to mind.

Good morning, David.
You say “They are economic migrants and should not be allowed to enter the UK .” They may also be asylum seekers, but not all those who seek asylum are genuine refugees. Those who are deemed to be “economic migrants” are deported.
That said, many who are genuine refugees are also refused asylum. Our asylum system is driven by arbitrary and unachievable “targets” which have led, according to the Independent Asylum Commission, to “perverse and unjust” refusals and “indefensible” threats of destitution used to try to force some asylum seekers to leave the country. There have also been many allegations of abuse and humiliation, as well as the indefensible detention of young children and their prolonged and unnecessary separation from their parents.
The main point I am trying to make here is that so long as there is such a grotesque disparity in wealth across the globe, there will always be people trying to get to the UK and other rich countries in search of a better life. Some will smuggle themselves in as illegal immigrants, others may make false claims for asylum. The UK Border Agency has 25,000 staff working to enforce our immigration regulations. We have persuaded the French to close Sangatte refugee camp, and bulldoze “the Jungle.” Refugees are locked up and treated like criminals. Hi-tech scanners have been installed at ports to detect illegal immigrants. But still people try to make it, and some will always succeed.
I’m suggesting that the long-term solution lies in loosening the grip of the multinational corporations on world trade, so that we can begin to bring prosperity to poorer nations. I also think that because British foreign policy blunders have plunged Afghanistan and Iraq into chaos and violence, we owe a duty of care to refugees from those countries.
JS2: It is interesting how often people think that I write more letters than anyone else. Usually, if you do a count, you’ll find someone else who has written more. In the past, Tony Kelly, Kev McStravick and Christopher Wardell have written more. A quick count back to the beginning of Feb. reveals 9 letters from me, and 10 from Geoffrey Bulmer.
Mr Moffatt – I will not dignify your silly comment with a response.

"That said, many who are genuine refugees are also refused asylum".

Pete - you have no evidence whatsoever to support that theory. However there is ample evidence that only a tiny fraction of those earmarked for deportation are ever removed.

Your noble proposal to change the way the world works sounds wonderful. But it is completlely impractical as you well know. My motives are simple - look after our own country and our own people (especially the vunerable old and young who are starved of resources because they are diverted to care for illegal immigrants).

hmmm,,,think i will stay quite on this one...lol. for now anyway !!!.

Mr Winstanley as per usual is highly selective in his writing, He omits facts like most asylum seekers pouring into the UK are single fit young men of miltary service age, they are in fact mainly economic chancers not real refugees, with an unhealthy percentage ex foes driven from Iraq and afghanistan. They tend not to have their families with them which reenforces the suspicion that they are not genuine refugees.

He also omits the fact that as proven by the WHO and the UN council for refugees miost GENUINE refugees stay as close to their homeland as possible and few, very very few will travel intercontentantal distance, or cross through other save haven countries to seek sanctuary in the UK.

Most Genuine refugees also seek to return home as soon as possible as demonstrated for example by the 2 million Zimbabweans currently biding their time in South Africa.

Also Mr Winstanley enjoys on manipulating the truth to suit his own political agenda for example saying Britain deals with approx 25,000 applications a year, omitting the approx 2 million who poured into the UK during the late 90s and early 00s and only claim asylum when the authorities bang on their door.

Mr Winstanley writes for example "Many Asylum seekers are fleeing from poverty" Erm Mr Mr Winstanley people fleeing poverty are not asylum seekers, nor refugees they are simply economic migrants which neither the UK nor EU wants nor needs.

He also ignore the fact that asylum seekers ask for assistance and registration as soon as they arrive in a place of safety buit most of the unwanted economic migrants coming here usually try to get into the UK illegally and only claim asylum if they get caught.

The best place for these people is their own countries, not here destabilising our country.

Steve - you appear to have read neither my letter nor my response to David.

Nine letters since the beginning of February?? You sad man. Get out and about and get a life