WITH regard to the article on asylum seekers being housed at a Bolton hotel and the editorial comment, I would like to make some points on this matter.

One has very great sympathy for people who may be escaping from war-torn countries controlled by power-mad despots and fanatics, but many of the people who are coming into the country are economic migrants — otherwise why would they travel through many safe countries before finally making it to the UK.

The whole structure of our system is under threat — from the National Health Service to housing, transport and schools.

Those in positions of authority try to lay the blame for the burden on the NHS on the ageing population, when official figures show a massive increase in birth rates, particularly among ethnic groups.

But, then, there is no pressure group who will lobby for elderly people, most of whom have spent their productive years in working and paying taxes and NHS contributions in the now-vain hope that they might reap the rewards of thrift and hard work in later life.

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