Attitude allows extremism to thrive (From York Press)

Attitude allows extremism to thrive

10:33am Saturday 7th November 2009 in

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I read with interest the latest letter from Coun James Alexander (False Claims, November 5) dismissing a previous letter writer's quoted facts and warning of the dangers of “false claims” on sensitive issues such as immigration.

I wasn’t aware that genuine facts were part of a modern politician's make-up, and it seemed rather ironic from somebody representing the Labour Party, that arch manipulator of half truths and spin.

For years there has been an “accepted wisdom” among the liberal and left-wing political establishment, supported by their fellow travellers in the broadcast media, that there is no realistic alternative either to our continued membership of the EU or the total surrender of our established way of life in the UK.

Any reasonable and genuine alternative view has for a generation been consistently derided as right-wing xenophobia or extremism, which has served to squash any opportunity to have a mature national debate about these fundamental issues.

It is clear that under European legislation we can no longer legitimately refuse entry to whole swathes of immigrants so that we have effectively lost control of our borders.

The British people have historically demonstrated fairness and tolerance as part of our national character; this has always been the best defence against extremism.

However, the ruling elite’s arrogant dismissal of the genuine concerns of millions of voters, many who currently feel their livelihoods seriously threatened, has created the perfect circumstances for extremism to flourish.

This is, of course, a price that the Labour Party may consider worthwhile in their efforts to engineer a society where only the compliant view is acceptable.

Martin Smith, Main Street, Elvington, York.