Unlike Mr Berry (Soapbox Evening Post April 30) I think immigration has had a positive effect on Bristol, enriching the city’s past, present and hopefully our future – whether from Ireland, Jamaica, Poland, Pakistan or Somalia.
With our predominantly ageing population, we need their youth, skills and energy. They are the future surgeons, home care assistants, bus drivers, teachers and street cleaners that Mr Berry’s generation and mine will be relying on to provide the services and revenue that we can no longer contribute to our community.
Already migrants contribute £2.5 billion more to the economy than they take in services.
So let’s invest in our future. That would be public money better spent than bailing out greedy, incompetent bankers.
Just to correct the common mistake that Mr Berry makes. The majority of the many millions who are forced from their homes by conflict and tyrannical regimes do find refuge in neighbouring countries. Iran and Pakistan for example have taken in 4 million Afghans. Only 2% of the world’s asylum seekers are in the UK.
Jo Benefield