SIR – G B Dipper (Worcester News, March 26) and the rest have had their deluded way in the matter of immigration for much too long.

They have been woefully aided by the rank pusillanimity of the three main parties – even Labour, for pity’s sake – which now appear to be in a postEastleigh rhetorical arms race.

Fact, reason and evidence base are nowhere to be seen.

Well, here’s some: e Migrants tend to be young and here to make money, and arrived in large numbers either side of the turn of the millennium because Britain was booming.

e They played a key role in our success, their positive contribution to public finances being greater than predicted.

e Statistics show, clearly and unambiguously, that migrants are less likely to claim benefits than our indigenous population – even after working here for several years.

e Study after study has shown that, contrary to widespread public belief, migrants contribute more to the public purse than they take out.

In addition, nay-sayers of all persuasions are guilty of silly politics, since this cheap and nasty populism is a real turn-off for the younger, more tolerant, sections of the electorate.

This debate is becoming really toxic, one which is demeaning of the whole mainstream, debases politics and is, almost certainly, actually against our national interest.

DAVID BARLOW

Worcester