I REPEAT what I have said before in these columns: that John Belcher is a very good artist.

It is such that his knowledge of mathematics and geography is not commensurate with his dexterity.

His letter headed 'UKIP fears', apart from the petty socialist jibes which are to be expected, contains both inaccuracies and lack of comparisons. For instance:- •He states that there are 1.8 million Britons living in Europe, but that there are 2.34 million EU immigrants living in the UK.

This last figure is rubbish as the Home Office admits that they have no accurate record of the numbers arriving by whatever means in this country which shortcoming has been acknowledged by that incompetent Home Secretary.

Even so Belcher's figures show a discrepancy of 0.54 million.

•Spain and France, where most of our ex-pats live, are very much larger than the UK. Within the EU, the UK is the most populous country and the services for education, health, law and order and social welfare are unable to cope. 

•Our ex-pats are self sufficient and do not sponge off the welfare systems of their countries of residence.

EU immigrants coming to this country expect our Welfare State to look after them. Those that find work not only take jobs from our indigenous population, but work for below minimum wages and inflict lower incomes and standards of living on the rest of us.

•Our ex-pats contribute in no small way to the local economies of their countries of residence whereas immigrants to the UK sponge off the system and even those who find work send a proportion of their earnings 'back home'.

Little wonder that while politicians enthuse about our reduced   unemployment, our welfare bill remains inordinately high.

UKIP's fight to regain control of our borders is correct, and to chant 'xenophobia' or 'racist' is not only childish and typically socialist, but is irresponsible and shows no consideration for UK residents. Before Belcher rants against 'politics of the extreme', he and his fellow socialist do-gooders should think for themselves.

– Cy Roberts, Coalway.