Swamping scenarios

This body is incapable of referring to migration without conjuring up nightmare visions of a country under critical threat of being swamped.

Such scenarios underestimate the ability of people, especially working people, to work together and to smoothe the absorption of incomers from overseas.

The idea that the influx of people into Britain can be staunched by the use of work permits or quotas is preposterous.

Britain became rich as a result of overseas trade, conquest and exploitation and the peoples of the countries that suffered as a result can see the difference in living standards in Britain and in their own underdeveloped homelands.

To imagine that they would accept poverty and indolence at home rather than follow the wealth gouged from their countries and exported to Britain is naive.

And, whatever the conclusions drawn by their lordships, the beneficial effects of immigration are there for all to see.

But for immigrants, our health service, social services, roadbuilding, railways and buses would have all but collapsed. Even today, it is east Europeans who keep areas of agriculture going, especially at harvest time.

Any problems arising from immigration are not the fault of the immigrants themselves.

They are the fault of people who exploit migrants, paying them below the minimum or industrial council wage, shoving them into overcrowded homes and keeping them away from trade union representatives.

The government ought to be quicker to respond in areas where a rapid increase in population results in pressure on housing, the NHS and welfare provision.

But it should also tighten up safeguards to prevent crooked gangmasters from taking advantage of the government's own aversion to regulation by robbing migrant workers and undercutting the rate for the job.

Daunting propect

TO be facing a target of £5,567 on the final day of our paper's monthly £16,000 Fighting Fund campaign would be daunting enough at any time.

But to envisage such a shortfall in the first month of our paper's return to distribution in Scotland on the day of publication is very worrying.

Fulfilling this pledge to our Scottish readers was always going to be a financial gamble.

It involves investing tens of thousands of pounds more in our delivery arrangements in the hope that higher circulation in Scotland will, in time, cover this additional cost.

Even if all goes well, the initial investment weighs heavily on our paper's slender financial reserves.

And the situation certainly won't be helped by a shortfall in our Fighting Fund, which takes care of a number of essential areas of expenditure to keep the daily alternative voice for peace and socialism alive.

We cannot afford to lose over £5,000 in funding in a single month.

If you are committed to the future existence of the Morning Star and you can help financially, please phone our Fighting Fund department today on (020) 8510-0815 and make a payment by credit or debit card.