MORE and more families are experiencing the growing pressure on housing, schools and hospitals, to name but three.
The reason, that dare not speak its name, is immigration.
It’s out of control and everyone knows it.
The annual net migration to this country stands at a record 323,000.
That’s the equivalent of a city the size of Leeds every two years.
This is unsustainable, irresponsible and will affect social cohesion in the longer term.
If you recall, the Government pledged to reduce immigration to the “tens of thousands”.
The Prime Minister had an opportunity to tackle this vexed issue during his renegotiations, but he failed, singularly.
One of the EU’s founding principles - the free movement of people – remains in place and the consequences are there for all to see.
So, our borders remains porous and vulnerable and our small island continues to fill up.
Of course, we are a star attraction for millions of EU migrants, whose economies are far behind ours.
Our minimum wage, for example, is six times the amount paid in Romania and Bulgaria, according to the EU’s Eurostat.
To many migrants, it must seem the streets of London are literally paved with gold, which may explain why nearly 220,000 citizens from these two countries are now in the UK.
But as EU citizens pour in, our own nationals are increasingly losing out.
We do have the lowest unemployment rate in the EU, but competition for jobs and housing is fierce and EU rules forbid discrimination.
Not surprisingly immigration is ignored by the pro-EU campaign completely.
During the last election, it was a top concern, but we were assured that all was under control.
Well it’s not and, unless we vote to leave the EU, it never will be, to our serious detriment.