IN his column headlined “Thank goodness for the Archbishop”, Rob Merrick yearns for a sensible debate on immigration (Echo, Oct 30), yet the politicians and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who he praises, are accusing the majority of British people of being racist.

To suggest that it is “migrant entrepreneurs”, as Mr Merrick does, who are creating thousands of jobs is a simplification that ignores that they are creating a cheap labour force for the financial gain of the better off. Mr Merrick also conveniently ignores this country’s massive debt.

The Archbishop talks about soaring levels of racist abuse, while ignoring the racist threats to the British people by immigrants and their beliefs, and the fact that creating poverty is also creating massive social problems.

As a clever colleague put it: “You can’t control immigration,” but that makes our exit from the EU all the more likely. The fact that we have a massive trade deficit with the EU each month seems to be ignored by Mr Merrick.

We can, and will be, a stronger nation outside the EU. All the suggestions of massive job losses are misrepresentations. Of course it will take time but it can be no worse than the future we are facing.

As for Mr Merrick’s assertion that the Government’s policy towards refugees fleeing war-torn North Africa in rickety boats is “let them drown”, that is an insult which has no truth at all.

John Young, Wolsingham