We need to talk about the UK’s immigration policy | Letters

Your editorial (The rise in net migration shows up the hollowness of government policy, 28 February) is right to bemoan the lack of a coherent, long-term policy on immigration. A key consideration must be the future ability of the government to ensure the country’s food security. Last week the National Farmers’ Union warned that in a world of food price volatility and potential shortages, the UK today imports 40% of the food it eats, compared with just over 20% in the mid-1980s (UK faces losing battle to feed itself, warn farmers, 24 February). This is hardly surprising given that the UK population has grown by 7.5 million during this time and annual net migration has soared more than fivefold to nearly 300,000 today, compared with 58,000 in 1985.

Of course a healthier, less meat-rich diet, improved farming and perhaps the odd ploughing up of excess golf courses could improve things. But this would soon be overtaken by the food needs of a UK population projected to increase by 10 million in the next 25 years, ie one and a quarter Greater Londons. Not to see these population pressures as a huge difficulty in a world of rising food insecurity and climate change is surely an act of gross political irresponsibility.

Do we want mass immigration or a living wage? We can’t have both

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