UKIP is a bit like Sarah Palin's tea party. You've got to be as mad as a hatter to vote for them.
But hey! that's what Democracy is for.To think of all the people who fought to obtain the right to vote, it makes me cry!

UKIP are not a racist party. Immigration is a big issue in the election that a lot of people are worried about. To erroneously brand people as'racist' everytime anyone raises the issue, is childish and reveals deeply held predjudices that you yourselves held. What would be your answer? Unlimited immigration forever?

Colin, ieatdophins: no-one is branding *any* discussion of immigration as racist. There are frank and honest discussions about it in parliament, in all the papers and TV, all the time...

However, as George E notes, immigration is a complex issue, and you need a degree of nuance and subtlety in order to say anything sensible. Willfully simplifying the issue, and villifying those seeking asylum, doesn't look like an attempt to solve the issue, so much as cynically sowing divisions for electoral gain. George is right to call it out.

The leaflet is daft and is a dog whistle to closet xenophobes. As per usual for anything to do with UKIP.

The debate is valid and so is the viewpoint that immigration is poorly policed and that policy here needs to be tightened.

It is a vile message. But the fact that you're trying to associate it with the Conservatives whilst ignoring Labour links seems like burying your head in the sand. They're a problem that unfortunately spans the political spectrum - let's not play cheap political games with it?

Daniele, you are absolutely right, the UKIP is a bit like Sarah Palin’s tea party. Whilst I like you will not be voting for them; there are many prepared to do so for latent reasons; which I hope to address below.

In response to Joe’s comment the Labour Government should also address intellectual deficiencies surrounding the immigration debate. The BNP, EDL, UKIP and other ring wing racist xenophobic political outfits claiming to be speaking for the British ‘natives’ should really be ashamed of themselves.

Supporters these political outfits are either gullible or have had their intellect and senses impoverished by the constant denigration of asylum seekers and immigrants coming to United Kingdom.

It is right that immigration should be fairly debated and done so transparently without the main political parties cowering and capitulating to the demands of those who claim to speaking for the natives.

Contrary to their public remarks and statements on immigration the main political parties are aware of the facts surrounding immigration; and it has nothing to do with the disingenuous claims that it is adding pressure on public services. If that at all was the case then any government could have taken corrective measures to address the problem many years ago by limiting the number of entrants from specific countries who regularly flout their visa conditions.

It is a matter of fact the major concern with current administration of immigration policy is that has not been effective enough in tracking down and removing overstayers. For many BNP, EDL, UKIP and other ring wing racist xenophobic political outfits supporters reading this entry; it should come as a surprise to realise the number of overstayers from countries like Australia, New Zealand and to a lesser extent Canada and United States are by far disproportionate to the total number of immigrants from so called ‘third world countries’ put together.

The UKBA record will show that you have more Australians flouting their visa conditions and overstaying.
If you doubt my claim just put in a freedom of information request to the Home Office.

This now brings me to the subtext of the immigration debate. On the proviso that you are White Caucasian and English speaking, you can come in drove to the United Kingdom. This is evidenced in the fact that although we have more Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans in violation of their visa conditions by mostly overstaying and thus adding pressure to the demands of public service; yet you will never hear the likes of Migration Watch UK, the Home Office and British Government openly acknowledge it to be a fact.

Sadly, it has become fashionable to focus wrongly on non White Caucasian ethnic minorities who in total account for less than 10 percent of the UK population; if you include the figures of those who are British Citizens along with asylum seekers and immigrants.

This fashionable trend has taken over many years to evolve and become a settled argument in the psyche of the political elites, whose tough talking on immigration is music to the likes of BNP and UKIP, and a shameless act of gross opportunism, and cheap stunt to win seats in parliament on Thursday 6th May 2010.

This is why many people are right in accusing those who advocate immigration policies instigated by BNP and UKIP as racist because there is no substance to their argument; just fear mongering and a disdain for those who are ethnically different.

When will these xenophobes stop pretending and face up to their racist view?

I hate UKIP because they stand on blanket issues and campaign using FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).

The UK is by no means "full" and for those who are concerned about competition remember: the reason they get the work is that most of them work harder. Wages isn't the issue, I have worked with many different people from many different countries and in general foreign labour works harder. If a foreign worker has stolen your job it was because you couldn't keep it!

In addition most of the people who come here are not "asylum seekers", they are migrant workers with a genuine right to work here under the law.

One of the reason's why we have such a large national debt, is because of the such soft/socialist benefit's system we have, this encourage's mass immigration to take advantage of it!

it must stop for a number of reasons, immigration is one

To Colin Theobald: Racism is not mentioned once in this article and as you are the first person to comment using this term, you have laid your insecurities bare.

Isaac:
A big thank you for taking the time to explain the FACTS of immigration.
I would have written a similar long piece if I was less lazy and if I thought it would actually penetrate the skulls of the supporters of xenophobic parties.
Unfortunately I don't think it will make the slightest bit of difference to the Neanderthal crowd out there.

"Since you were the ones bombing them, pricing them out of fair competition by subsidising EU goods to keep them competitive against those coming from developing countries, and suffering the aftereffects of colonialism."

Bit of a messy sentence, but if anyone doesn't understand the many conflicts created by drawing borders with no knowledge or care as to how it affects those who live there, don't bother responding.

wow! what a vile article... a postcard that humourously gets the anti-immigration/asylum message accross is somehow racist?!? What the hell is wrong with someone expressing their views on immigration?!? Isn't this a free democratic country where people who are citizens can voice concerns about the direction of the country and its government? Apparently not!

If the western powers including Britain were to refrain from installing tinpot dictators under the guise of "democracy" and then proceeding to steal their natural resources, then we wouldn't have the many hundreds of thousands so called "Refugees" fleeing to Western shores to escape the "Puppet" Governments.

Well said Isaac.
I am appalled by the degree of ignorance and xenophobia expressed in most comments.
First there are the myths some of you guys WANT to believe in:
Economic migrants come here TO WORK, not to sponge off the system. In any case, they wouldn't be entitled to benefits for a number of years after they have arrived.
Then there is the question of asylum seekers. These have no right to anything while their application is processed which could take months or even years, NO BENEFITS and NO RIGHT TO WORK. What more or rather what less do you want?
Then I love the argument that asylum seekers should seek refuge in the first country they can run to. Great idea! Britain being an island, then nobody would come here! Terrific logic. And the country next to a dictatorship or a war zone would get millions of refugees, like Pakistan should get all the Afghans and Italy should get all the North Africans etc.. But hey! who cares? Britain would have no one!It is obvious that the problem of the world refugees must be shared by all the countries who can help, and that includes Britain.
Finally like Isaac and others point out, asylum seekers and economic migrants come here mostly as a consequence of our foreign policy (we bomb them) or because of the savage global capitalism which is perpetuating a new form of slavery throughout the third world.
But I don't suppose the people who write above are interested in such facts.
They, put simply, just hate "bloody foreigners".
As to UKIP they have revealed their true colours when they allowed Farage to disgrace himself and this country, in Brussels.Thanks Nigel!