by Raymond Howarth

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 12, 2009

Hello from middle England,

I am a hard-working, self-employed single male from the north of England. I like to think of myself as a nice bloke who gets on with everyone; black, white, every colour and creed. But policy on immigration is increasingly forcing me to change my views. Over-immigration is destroying my culture. I no longer feel like an Englishman in my town, I feel like a minority; scared to raise my voice for fear of being branded a racist and it's not just me, my friend Harjit of punjabi descent is too incensed by the influx of immigrants into our society.

i recently ventured into the town centre, which is a rare occurence these days only to find I was now living in an Eastern-European town. Large groups of foreign migrants, legal or not, are now commonplace, hanging around the once vibrant centre of Wakefield. I see a young English girl, quite pretty and well-dressed, instantly grab their obviously unwelcome attentions. "Leave her alone," I thought, "she is just out shopping or maybe on her break from work," which none of these young men are (and I stress "young" men. No couples trying to make a better life here; just men in their own groups; Serbs one side of the precinct and another group obviously agitated by the Serbs on another. I'd like to help the young English girl, but there are roughly 15 or so in the gang. aA policeman and woman walk by, ignoring her obvious distress. It breaks my heart. Wakefield has always been tolerant of all cultures and religions, and now we feel under siege.

My mother turned 60 a few years ago and receives a pension from the state but not a full pension, as she had time off to look after myself and my older brother. Fair enough, I say, as she hadn't paid enough national insurance,but wait - a woman coming from war-torn Afghanistan of the same age receives full pension without paying a penny. My mother doesn't want the money, as they have done well, but feels that she too is not being treated fairly. She also does no longer venture into the city centre after being pushed about by immigrants while using her mobile phone. She is scared.

I have a friend who has done well and owns many properties for rent. How rude that he is compelled by certain civil bodies to offer a "welcome pack" to immigrant tenants but not to British tenants. Surely the idea is we are all equal.

I live here, my family lives here, we speak English here and yet we are throwing money away on many people who do not wish to work from other countries. A policy requiring all immigrants to have a job before they arrive should be implemented soon, and for those politically-correct people who shout the asylum argument; is it not the law that refugees should claim asylum in the first safe country? They come here because our system is soft on them. I could do with help myself as a businessman struggling through the recession, and I mean STRUGGLING!

In closing, it makes me sad that my once-forgiving and tolerant views on all cultures is being tested to the limit and this view is supported by my circle of multi-cultural friends. Call me racist; I dare you, because I'm not, but this open tap of immigration must be closed. I am disgusted with the state of my country and hurt. My national identity is being eroded and I want it back

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