I AM writing to reply to the letter from D P Hunter which was written in response to my letter the previous week.

It asks how I think we might absorb the people desperate to enter Europe. My answer would be for Mr or Ms Hunter to take a flight over Britain on a clear day. They will see that our green and pleasant land is not full. Add in Scotland, who have said they will accept thousands of refugees, and a totally different concept emerges than the one given in the tabloids, which makes our country appear to be as overcrowded as Hong Kong.

We are an ageing society and we need young blood to help support our economy in the future. There are doctors sitting at Calais who we could use as an alternative to cutting appointments off the waiting lists (presently happening at the eye hospital due to lack of doctors). The majority of the Syrians are well educated, cultured people, eager to work and contribute to our society, as refugees who have done that have been welcomed here over the ages.

My beloved aunt was a 14-year-old on the last train from Prague before the Nazis closed the borders. Her father, who was shot, was a political activist, and knew his family were at risk. Sadly her sister was ill and not able to make the train. She spent world war two in Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. My aunt (by marriage) was sent to Devon where she received a warm welcome. She went on to work firstly for the General Nursing Coun-cil and then for the Medical Research Council, paying taxes for the whole of her life.

Refugees are usually so grateful to be given sanctuary that they will work to provide the infrastructure needed, both for us and for them. We are virtually all from immigrants over the centuries, and most have integrated totally with our society.

The reason I am ashamed to be British is that the population of this country was so brainwashed by the media that they seemed unable to see further than the spiel put out that our economy would only be safe in Tory hands, and that a vote for any other party would lead us to be ruled by the SNP.

Having lived in the Highlands for over 20 years I can guarantee that the SNP is not interested in ruling England. This was not part of the settlement of 400 years ago.

David Cameron has repeatedly said that the only way to control the problem of migration is to get peace in the Middle East region.

The Government has had years to do this, and has no idea how to bring about peace there. It probably does not help in sending arms to one side, as we have done, selling arms to Israel and Saudi Arabia, or causing an illegal war in Iraq.

I have listened to people saying that these migrants should go to Saudi Arabia. Sadly that country has a human rights record second to none, beheading, imprisoning, stoning, and lashing anyone who utters a word against their vile regime. Who would, in their right mind, flee Asaad or ISIS to go to a regime which is just as evil, if not worse? In reply to Catherine Trafford Smith, I would say I agree that our broken political system has caused a lack of housing, GPs and infrastructure, but have pointed out that with young people eager to work, this lack can be addressed.

I find it horrific that people rely on foodbanks in this day and age and we have rough sleepers with no roof over their heads. I think the cost of a museum to Maggie Thatcher, who sold off the council houses, would be better placed addressing some of these problems. I think Ms Trafford Smith will find that the British people with an out pouring of compassion for the refugees also have compassion for those at home, who are suffering due to the lack of facilities caused by poor Government for the last two or three decades.

The Blair Government tried to address this problem using Private Finance Initiative (PFI), resulting in local authorities and health authorities paying extensive interest rates for years to come, without leaving any room for new capital ventures.

As pointed out, our political system whereby one party (this time Tory with 37% of the vote) putting their own ideology into practice without any forethought for the future, is wrong. That however, is a totally different subject to the pressing one of helping desperate people fleeing war, starvation in the camps, persecution and violence.

Joyce Denness

Bere Alston