More of the same

Listening to this election’s negative rhetoric I recall that for immigrant members of my extended family Britain was a haven of peace, stability, prosperity and tolerance.

Refugees from a harsh background of peasant farmers and fishermen, they sought a better future and within a generation or so had gained entry to the professions.

They did not expect hand-outs but came to work in the kind of society where effort is rewarded: a liberal market economy based on property rights and the rule of law.

Like today’s immigrants, they would have shrugged off 
whining about the NHS, welfare state, food banks, etc because here was infinitely better than where they had been.

They would have noted that in the past five years Britain has driven down excessive public spending and managed to kick-start the economy – and voted for more of the same.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews