Immigration, Immigration, Immigration

I came across an interesting article on peoples perception of asylum-seekers figures:

Nearly a quarter of people believe there are more than 100,000 asylum applications every year – about four times the annual figure of 25,670, and just 5 per cent of Britons know to within 10,000 how many refugees come to the UK every year, according to a survey carried out for the charity- British Red Cross. (read article)

It's an interesting point as it does become self for filling. Labour really need to get rid of the elephant in the room that is immigration and start talking about it. By not saying anything they carry on the presumption that nothing is being done. Clearly there were high levels of immigration that these perceptions are based on, as anyone that lives outside of the Westminster bubble knows. Yet if the measures they have in place have reduced immigration they need to speak up.

Another factor here is that hostility will go up when people are fearful for their livelihoods, it's human natural to want to protect yourself. Yet that makes it so much more important to talk openly and rationally. Immigration historically has always become the scape goat when times get hard. It does no one any favours saying nothing.