Clearly the subject of immigration will not go away and it will be a subject that is central to the forthcoming elections.

In the meantime we will be subjected to the weasel words of politicians seeking to pass blame or convince us that something can be done to remedy the problems that have resulted from opening our borders.

As I see the position, the Conservatives are on a hiding to nothing. The fact is that an irreparable situation had been created before they took office.

Quite simply, masses of immigrants were here to stay, putting pressure on already straitened resources and jobs. What makes matters worse is that large numbers of people entered the country illegally and remain unaccounted for.

David Cameron has talked of renegotiating the terms of our membership in Europe. His proposals are appealing and accord with the concepts advanced when we voted for a Common Market.

However, from the outset such a proposition seemed naïve and the recent remarks of the lugubrious Angela Merkel seem to endorse the position.

Does Mr Cameron really think the Germans are likely to give up their ambition to dominate Europe by doing favours for a nation which has been a thorn in their side for so long?

So what is the likely result? We will struggle to limit the number of immigrants entering the country while meeting our obligations to accommodate workers from European states.

In the meantime, regardless of attempts to control immigration, we will continue to feel the increasing social and financial effects of the open-door policies adopted by the previous government.

In the latter respect, how can the “butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth” Yvette Cooper and her colleagues have the gall to lay blame for the sins of her party on the Government?

Has she forgotten Lord Mandelson’s admission that Labour was so keen on mass immigration that it sent out “search parties”?

The ever-smiley Alan Johnson once said that he did not “lie awake” worrying about Britain’s population veering towards 70 million.

But isn’t it time for all parties to address what could become a population crisis?

Neil Kelly, Tredcroft Road, Hove