SIR – Other small European countries such as Austria, Norway, Switzerland and Czech Republic do not have the intensity of social problems we have.

Compare our population of 62 million approximately to Czech (11 million approximately), Norway (4.5), Austria (nine), Switzerland (eight).

Consequently, on our small island, we get statistics such as 1.8 million on council house waiting lists.

A TV documentary showed a man, born abroad, with a wife and seven children, who had been on Manchester’s waiting list for 16 years.

For the last 12 years, the Labour Government have been disregarding public opinion on this very important matter, letting the numbers increase dramatically.

An article by a Government insider claimed that Tony Blair and Jack Straw, when Home Secretary, planned mass immigration.

Only now is Labour making an issue of immigration, just before an election. I wonder why.

Viewing politics a lot – I must be foolish or bored – I have only ever seen the two cabinet ministers raise the topic; Ruth Kelly and Andy Burnham – never ever Gordon Brown or Jack Straw.

Harry Goodwin, Ashbourne Drive, Bradford