Britain needs humanity not prejudice

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7.

YOUR correspondent Philip Duly (Letters, May 24) in criticising Alan Dean and myself, does not answer any of the substantive points made in our letters published on May 17.

It is nothing to do with free speech but with attitudes towards fellow human beings who happen to come from other countries in special circumstances.

Xenophobia is exactly the right word for some of these attitudes.

Mr Duly refers to mass immigration into the UK. Yes, those immigrants have contributed a great deal to the country. Where would the NHS be without them, for example?

But in almost every year since 1945, more people have left these shores than have entered.

Would Mr Duly applaud local politicians in their adopted countries who demonised them in the name of free speech?

Again, Zimbabwe comes to mind.

Mr Duly is worried by the loss of national identity and the creation of a multi-cultural society.

I wonder, does he ever eat Indian or Chinese or any other 'ethnic' foods which have become so popular and which have in turn stimulated an improvement in 'English' food?

That is just one small example of the benefits of a multi-cultural society.

In any case, Britain has always been multi-cultural to some extent.

Ask a Geordie or a Cornishman about that, let alone the Scots or the Welsh.

I repeat my basic point that this country and the world in general need policies based on humanity and tolerance, not on prejudice and distorted facts.

Britain's traditionally liberal policy on political asylum is more of a myth than a reality.

I should like to see a truly liberal policy implemented rather than lip-service to noble principles belied by the practice.

FRANK JACKSON, Kingsmoor Road, Harlow.