Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Divide and rule tactic

I CANNOT leave Bill Williams’ offensive and repugnant rant in which he blames immigrants for everything he does not like about modern Britain (SA, October 14) unchallenged.

Blaming minorities, foreigners and those who are not exactly like us is a classic divide and rule tactic, one Hitler employed very effectively.

Would Bill like to see the rise of a fascist state in Britain? I hope he can remember enough history to know the evils that fascism brought to Germany.

May I suggest instead he opens his eyes to the good immigrants do in our society, and how they are enriching it.

Many of our doctors and nurses are immigrants and I am sure Bill would not refuse to be treated by them in an hour of need. And immigrants work in many other sectors too.

Indeed on September 26 2018 The Economist reported that according to the government’s latest review on immigration by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), immigrants contribute more to the public purse on average than native-born Britons do. To put it bluntly: we need immigrants economically, especially as we age as a nation.

And this does not even start to address the cultural richness they bring, with music, dance, food, literature and different customs and celebrations amongst other things.

For the record, Bill, we do not have unlimited immigration. Don’t let yourself be played by those who would have you believe that we do, and who encourage you to scapegoat immigrants. This is not the way we end the ills in our society. Instead be grateful that we live in a multi-cultural society and can offer sanctuary to those fleeing persecution, and work to understand those whose life experience is different. And then join with them to form a better future for all.

Anne Bennett, Swindon

BBC no longer neutral

The BBC is supposed to remain neutral on all issues.

John Humprey has attacked the BBC’s unquestioning acceptance of transgender ideology, which reminds us that the BBC is no longer neutral.

It’s time to stop exposing children to the madness that is being peddled by a microscopic minority lobby group hell bent on spewing their views on the majority.

Apparently girls nationwide are increasingly skipping school as a way to avoid having to use gender-neutral toilets (I wonder if the teachers/governors have the same toilet set-up?).

The psychological effects of girls not feeling safe enough to use mixed-sex toilets is also concerning.

Moreover, it transpires that hundreds of young trans people now regret gender switch and want to change back.

How confusing life has become for some. And this confusion comes at a huge cost to the struggling NHS! In short, the rest of us.

Jeff Adams, Bloomsbury, Swindon

Let police do their job

After seeing how the police were able to react to and during the recent Manchester attack, it just goes to show that our force is better employed doing their best for us under those circumstances rather than removing people called Extinction Rebellion, who see fit to glue themselves to various objects and climb upon aeroplanes.

I now see that old nuisance called ‘Swampy’ has tried to get on the bandwagon.

It would do more good if he applied to become a policeman, but then again, who would want him?

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton