The Three Old Hacks discuss immigration this week. Mihir Bose, former Sports editor for the BBC, came here as an immigrant from India in the 1960s, not long after Enoch Powell made his famous 'Rivers of Blood' speech.

Keir Starmer has been accused of evoking a fear of 'otherness' by echoing Powell's words, when he said Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers'.

David Smith, Economics editor of the Sunday Times, said Brexit had led to a massive increase in immigration, and we were "starting to shoot ourselves in the foot" because immigrants from the EU tended to be young, making little claim on the state, and usually returning home after they had spent a few years here. They did not displace British workers, the British workforce grew at the same rate, whereas now that was no longer the case.

Nigel Dudley, political analyst, said Starmer's use of Powellite phraseology would give comfort and encourage racists. On a lighter note, Nigel also made an appeal for cricket players, as his village cricket ground is working to revive the sport locally. He's looking for players for Lidgate & Ousden Cricket Club and encouraged anyone living within a 20-mile radius of Newmarket or Bury St Edmunds to get in touch via their website: https://lidgateousden.play-cricket.com/home

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