The level of ignorance and bigotry about immigration, refugees and asylum seekers never ceases to surprise me.
For the past 8 weeks, a close friend has been visited by two carers, morning and evening, every day. The carers are all African, they are all women escaping all kinds horrors in their homelands. They are unfailingly cheerful, professional and compassionate. Without them, who would be providing this level of care.
My friends experience is not unusual. Most agencies that supply carers, either as live in or home visitors, are staffed by people who were not born in the UK.
I don't know anyone who has recieved similar services, or who has worked with asylum seekers or refugees, who hasn't been moved by their stories and pleased that our country has been able to help them.
For those who say we can't afford it, we're overcrowded etc, I say you're wrong. We can't afford not to. What kind of country would we live in if we refused to offer help to those in need. Many people don't want to stop in their first country because they have family or cultural links with the Uk or they are from countries colonised by the Uk so there are links with language, faith and so on.