Unions contribute

Great to see a bit of good news for Swindon in our local newspaper; I refer to the success of our car manufacturers BMW and Honda in a harsh economic climate. With no disrespect to Honda or BMW intended, they have shown their vote of confidence in the workforce via their financial support.

May I make a point? The unions have been getting stick in the national press recently over alleged militant activities at Grangemouth, as well as malpractice regarding alleged membership rigging at Falkirk. I only know what I have read in the press, so have no wish to be judgmental on these issues without the full facts.

However, a bit nearer home I do know the facts. The Honda factory and its workers were recently praised by the legendary Alex Brummer in the financial pages of the Daily Mail recently. Hardly a left wing publication.

Both Honda and BMW have a large union membership. The union leaders and members have complied with management regarding many various changes to the status quo that has made this success story, from the dark days of a few years ago, possible for Honda. The days of regular strikes at the previous owners of BMW are now a thing of the past.

There are many sensible honest hard working members in our unions. The convenor of Honda, Paddy Brennan, who I know personally, has worked tirelessly with his shop stewards on behalf, and in the best interests of, his members to make the company successful and secure jobs. They have all played a major part in helping to sustain our local, as well as national, economy.

Bill Williams Merlin Way, Swindon

Slurs on UKIP

Many of our Swindon UKIP members have been hurt to read Martin Webb’s offensive and untrue comments published by the Advertiser, including that UKIP is “...racist, bigoted, homophobic & misogynistic”. Mr Webb’s remarks show his strong prejudice about our people and ignorance of our policies, somewhat ironic given the nature of the allegations that he makes about us. Swindon UKIP wants to tackle the real issues that affect everyone in our town, and we need to be clear what these are and where we stand on them. We desperately need to cut council management and remove private consultants to improve frontline service delivery.

We want smarter procurement and partnership with local firms in providing council services, including a focus on tackling youth unemployment and skills gaps by stimulating the local economy. We need to plan for the long term future in our infrastructure and development. We need to stop landing future generations with debt laden PFI public buildings and out-of-town development built over our green spaces, without adequate roads or school places.

We need to protect the vulnerable and take a tough line on crime and anti-social behaviour. We do also believe that uncontrolled immigration is not sensible public policy.

Mr Webb can disagree with that view if he likes, but that is not fair grounds for serious allegations of racism to be levelled against our members and anyone who agrees with us. UKIP believes in free speech, including the open exchange of genuinely held opinions and arguments.

However, Mr Webb should consider that laws exist to protect people from the authors and publishers of baseless and defamatory comments. We believe that individuals being targeted in this way would be wise to seek appropriate legal advice.

John Short Chairman, Swindon

UKIP Control borders

I notice that the subject of immigration has featured consistently in your columns for some weeks. In my view the debate has been informed by both ignorance and prejudice. In humility, I would like to try to introduce a little objectivity.

I think that it is important to be clear on the types of immigration available to those people seeking to enter the United Kingdom.

In the first place, all European nationals within the EU have the right to enter the UK with their dependants for an initial period of three months under the provisions of the Treaty of Rome. The provisions of the treaty are to encourage the migration of workers. If they fail to find work then they lose the right of residence and cease to have any entitlement to benefit. The only way to stop this migration would be to leave the EU. The consequences of this might affect the right to reside in their host country of the thousands of British nationals, including, for example, retired people living in Spain and young go getters in Germany.

Whether or not this can be described as “uncontrolled” immigration is, I think, open to debate.

Non EU nationals can enter the UK under the tier based system which allows individuals ranging from highly skilled people where those skills are lacking in our economy (medics,research scientists) to students (on whose fees many British universities depend) to come in. This is strictly controlled with very high levels of proof of financial independence required to gain entry.

Other non EU nationals can gain entry through claiming asylum, although the figures are insignificant in the overall context. This gives these people a legal status in the UK whilst their claim is being processed, in accordance with our obligations under the United Nations Convention on Refugees of 1951, to which we are a signatory. Even if their initial claim is rejected their status remains undiminished unless they are asked to leave the UK.

And finally, there are those who enter the UK without claiming asylum or who overstay their visa conditions and become overstayers. These people are illegal immigrants. As to how many there are – heaven alone knows, the government certainly doesn’t, so any speculation on that front is exactly that. The only way to resolve the problem is for the Home Office to reintroduce border controls, but I am not holding my breath.

D Rowlands Goddard Avenue, Swindon

Reduction needed

In reply to Martin Webb’s letter of 20 November, if you want controlled immigration there is only one party that is promising to reduce immigration.

All the three major parties support open borders with the EU and totally uncontrolled mass immigration into Britain. Gross immigration is currently steady at the rate of half a million a year, but this is expected to rise in January 2014 when we open our borders to Romania and Bulgaria.

Steve Halden Beaufort Green, Swindon