The Tory party are wrong – the UK should increase immigration

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Immigration can be a benefit for this country, not a burden (PA)

Contrary to some Tory voices, I do not believe that Britain needs to drastically reduce immigration numbers. Rather, we should increase the amount of immigration and asylum granted to people fleeing conflict and chaos, such as those from Ukraine and Hong Kong, to name but two.

We must, however, spend a greater amount of time observing the numbers of would-be immigrants from safe countries. People who want to come to Britain must have a skill, talent or trade that they can use to contribute to Britain’s society, economy and cohesion. These skills need not necessarily see them enter into a high-paid position (though scientists ought to be very welcome and valued) but should mean that all who are welcomed are able to swiftly fill vacancies where there are systemic labour shortages.

Immigration can be a benefit for this country, not a burden.

Sebastian Monblat

Surbiton

Aspire to be better

It’s a pity that the UK is no longer part of any larger consortium of democratic nations that would be able to use their combined power and influence to devise workable solutions to some of our more intractable problems.

If you’re struggling to collect enough small buckets to catch the falling water and prevent a flood, it would perhaps be wise to start asking why the water is falling in the first place.

We know two causes of immigration for certain. One is the effects of our ongoing climate crisis. The other is the cruelty of brutal government regimes that have no concern for the wellbeing of innocent civilians.

We also, I would like to believe, have a government that admires and would want to encourage aspiration. So why not start there?

David Buckton Linton

Cambridge

A desperate move

The prime minister’s delay with his immigration plan and the deal with Rwanda – after expressing how significant he believed this plan to be – gives the people yet another reason to distrust the current government.

If the PM is unable to quickly create a deal with Rwanda after listing it as one of his “top priorities”, then how will he deal with any of the other problems faced by his country?

The fact that the government is still pushing for this immigration plan and relying on emergency legislation to deem Rwanda a safe country simply shows their desperation for Rishi Sunak to make true on his promise. They’re trying to scrape up the last pieces of trust the people have in this Conservative government before it’s too late.

Caitlin Robson

Newcastle

We need to listen to survivors

I was shocked reading Holly Bancroft’s recent article on modern slavery. It is not right that survivors, who are victims of modern slavery, are being put behind bars rather than being given appropriate support. These vulnerable people have suffered enough in the hands of predators and should not be wrongly held and labelled as criminals. Survivors should be listened to and protected, and more awareness is needed to identify further victims.

Daisy Kneller

Newcastle Upon Tyne

The logic simply does not add up

Michael Gove has couched together a “share the blame, look after my mates” mindset and strategy for the inquiry, clearly what we’d expect from a snake-oil salesman like Gove.

The only thing is that it seeks to hoodwink the inquiry and protect people from scrutiny or blame, thus hindering the questioning and logic to be derived by the analysts.

Unhelpful really Gove – you are preventing real lessons from being learned, in favour of your own preferred defence mechanisms.

Boris Johnson was hopeless, Matt Hancock was hopeless, No 10 was in freefall and yet... Gove suggests no criticism should be levelled. No Gove, your logic simply does not add up. Do not insult the intelligence of the electorate or the inquiry team.

Dale Hughes

Address Supplied

Another Greek tragedy

Sunak snubbed Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the Greek prime minister’s comments regarding the return of the Parthenon sculptures to their place of origin.

Does Sunak feel so strongly about locking up world artefacts, out of place, in London museums? Or is this another populist move of an embattled British prime minister looking for an external adversary to round up the crowds against?

Bambos Charalambous

Manchester