We need to talk about immigration and the real fears that people have. If we don't, the politics of hate will win

NOT everyone who complains about immigration is a racist. But to label all of them so is to drive them into the hands of those who really are.

- Paul Sinclair

I believe immigration has been good for this country, culturally and economically.

But it is not racist to note that the current trends in immigration are different from past generations.

That communities feel their neighbourhoods are changing more rapidly than before. That they have a sense of unfairness.

For our leaders like John Swinney just to condemn those who complain about immigration as being divisive or extreme is to cover up for their own failings.

The reason people have a sense of unfairness is because the public services they rely on are so poor and rightly or wrongly they feel that new immigrants are ahead of them in the ever lengthening queues for health care, or a house, or a place at a decent school.

For people like the First Minister to fail to address those real feelings is to drive decent people into the hands of some of the racists in our politics who peddle myths.