Sir – I was most interested to read the submission on your Letters page last week from the Liberal Democrat MEP for south-east England, Catherine Bearder, and was puzzled to read her assertion that asylum/economic migrants in Calais do not seek refuge in Britain because of our benefits system as they would receive almost twice the support in France than we offer.

We have, in the past, had French dignitaries saying it is because our benefits are too generous that refugees seek to come here. How very perplexing and who should we believe? There is no doubt that English has become a major international language but does this mean we should be the conscience of the world and let all English speakers live here because it would be easier for them to integrate into a new country?

The assertion that many migrants have family here who they wish to join may or may not be correct. However, I am sure there are many British people with close relatives living in Australia whom they wish to join but would not meet the stringent entry criteria imposed by that country.

We have become a nation like The Emperor’s New Clothes, willing to believe all the media propaganda without a reality check.

David Cameron’s response to this crisis has been very considered, sending huge sums in relief to the refugee camps and choosing families from those camps to be resettled here over time.

Because we have a successful economy, we have already absorbed EU citizens following work; all our services, doctors, hospitals, schools, etc are at bursting point now. Once Germany has granted EU status to the hundreds of thousands it has promised to accommodate, how many of them will also come here through that door?

Carol Tomlinson
Elizabeth Drive
Wantage