Labour & Mass Immigration

The news, hitherto secret (though definitely suspected), that the Labour Government encouraged mass immigration because immigrants tend to vote Labour should not surprise us.   After 13 years we are used to their cynical and unscrupulous ways.   However, as the population of the UK approaches 70 million, as schools, hospitals and housing are breaking down and unable to cope, as our green island vanishes under the weight of new buildings, I think we should all make it clear that we are deeply opposed to what they have been doing and insist that immigration controls are made a great deal stricter.

The United Kingdom is already one of the most crowded nations on earth and the policy of the Labour Party is to make it even more crowded.   If anyone objects, they are accused of racism - dread word, used to silence any opposition to what is going on here.   It is NOT racist to want one's country to remain a decent place to live.   Few object to the colour of the immigrants, or their race, just to their numbers, and unfortunately Government policies have made the UK a particularly attractive place for immigrants.   The other countries of Europe are only too happy to pass them on to us, and our membership of the European Union makes it all but impossible, under current laws, to refuse entry.  

It is all very depressing, but to cheer us up, here is a beautiful photograph of a wintry scene in Northumberland.   There are compensations even in the darkest days of winter.

Snowdrops

The seriously cold weather of the last few weeks has halted the emergence of the snowdrops, but these much-loved flowers are now appearing at last.   Snowdrops (galanthus) are loved not only because they are very beautiful, but because of their courage in braving the cold, and for their promise of Spring in the darkest days of winter.   They are native to a large part of Europe and were probably introduced to this country in the early 16th century.

There are hundreds of varieties of snowdrop, and a carpet of the flowers all blooming together is a wonderful sight.   Many houses all over England have famous snowdrop gardens and open them specially when the flowers are in bloom.

Christopher Reid

Very many congratulations to the poet Christopher Reid, who last week won the Costa Book of the Year Award for his collection A Scattering.   Christopher, who is the most modest and unassuming of men, won the £30,000 prize unexpectedly in the face of fierce competition from Colm Toibin for his novel, Brooklyn, among others.

Christopher used to be the Poetry Editor of Faber, renowned for their distinguished list of poets.   He has published several volumes of poety, edited anthologies, and last year edited the letters of Ted Hughes, whom he knew well.

A Scattering is a touching tribute to Christopher's late wife, Lucinda Gane, an actress, who died tragically of cancer in 2005.

Christopher Reid and Lucinda Gane