Philip Hammond MP spoke this morning on Radio 4’s Today about efforts by the Conservative party including “humble backbenchers” led by David Cameron to stem immigration. “We will make this a less attractive place for people to come” he said because in his view you and I don’t care how the Government does so, all we care about is that the numbers of people arriving in this country reduces. Perhaps I am in a minority of a small number, but I want to live in a country that does not set out to make itself an unattractive place to come. There are many nations that do seem to have such a ‘noble’ ambition, such as America and Australia, yet they both attract many 1000’s of illegal immigrants every year. I am proud to live in a nation that has historically attempted to welcome the stranger, rather than a place where the stranger is despised. Our nation is seen from outside of these shores in much broader terms than those of our immigration policy. Indeed arguably every time David Cameron stands up and speaks against his European ‘partners’ or we take a lead on issues such as International armed warfare or on matters such as reducing debt for nations that lack our financial clout, our reputation as a place to aspire to visit and even live in is enhanced. Far too much focus is given to the mechanics of how people arrive at our borders and cross them, than to what motivates people to attempt the journey. My understanding is that the numbers attracted by matters such as our benefits in isolation from our broader societal culture are very small. Perhaps living in gated communities has impacted the thinking of people such as Philip Hammond and other people that he listens to. The truth is that even the most self sufficient gated community has to open its doors every so often, even if it is just to put the trash out!