Responding to fears about immigration

Two cheers for Nesrine Malik’s piece on the attitudes underlying the recent riots (After the riots, Keir Starmer should tell us the truth about our country. This is why he won’t, 19 August). She gives a powerful and accurate picture of the cancer of xenophobia that infects most western countries, including ours, to a greater or lesser degree. One cheer withheld, though because, in common with most journalists, she omits the hard numbers. They should be used every time the subject of immigration is raised.
How is possible that the political right gets away with suggesting that small boats are somehow the biggest problem the country faces? Because commentators don’t show that they are a tiny fraction – 2% – of total immigration, which is generally strictly controlled. Repeat the numbers every time, and the lies will be scotched, and the government need do little more.Tony WilkinsonOttery St Mary, Devon
Throughout my 70 years, immigration has been seen as a problem. We should recognise that antipathy to outsiders coming into a community can be a normal human response. The tendency is to vilify this response. Making people feel that a natural response is “evil” hardens hearts and hinders an amelioration of that response. It should therefore be important to tackle this response with an empathetic attitude.Brian Stewart Nottingham
Well said, Nesrine Malik. Thank you for spelling out the sheer lack of political and moral gumption on the government’s part. I would just add that Keir Starmer also seemed to have nothing of consequence to say following the huge solidarity demonstrations and widespread anti-racist efforts to repair social cohesion. Indeed, he left it to a hereditary monarch to mention the many “examples of community spirit” and call for national unity.Rosalind BruntSheffield