UK voters' panel: David Jones

MEET THE PANEL Name: David Jones Age: 58 Lives: Llansamlet, Wales Works: Retired teacher Current voting intention: Plaid Cymru In 10 words or less: "Likes to travel, interested in current affairs, Wales rugby fan" Watch message

Immigration doesn't top my list, though I'm not surprised to hear the Conservatives trumpeting on about it yet again.

Since asylum is a humanitarian and moral obligation, the only issue is ensuring that claimants are genuine.

Some skilled migrants are essential for the economy, so the Tory idea of quotas doesn't make sense.

Illegal immigration is a matter for policing and control, which obviously hasn't been done effectively for years.

It was delightful to see Tony Blair squirming under Jeremy Paxman's assault to avoid admitting he hasn't a clue, after eight years in office, how many illegal immigrants there are in the UK.

Wales has had waves of uncontrolled immigration over the centuries, swamping its language and culture.

VOTERS' PANEL: IMMIGRATION Chris Li Tonia Barton John Devenney David Jones Gerry Harris Ayub Khan

Labour and Conservative governments have been totally disinterested in its plight.

Michael Howard, the son of an immigrant who was welcomed here, didn't, I understand, make the effort to learn Welsh, while he, in his own words, had to "battle hard" to get out of Wales to where he is today.

Do I detect a touch of hypocrisy?

Nowadays, as we all know, politicians will do or say almost anything to gain or retain political power.

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Your comments:

Illegal immigrants should be treated as what they are: unarmed invaders of our country, who are rapidly colonising Britain. We need to respond swiftly and decisively, before it's too late.
James Farley, UK

There are, I believe, two issues worth mentioning here. One is that, as I understand, asylum seekers should apply for asylum in the first country available. Two, processing of asylum seekers should be accelerated and failed asylum seekers deported immediately.
Andrew, West Midlands, UK

I believe the media has a big part to play in all this. The lack of sensitising the masses through the media on what immigration is all about is creating a negative image towards the whole policy. I do agree this is an issue that should be discussed by the nation but why is it only now being raised when the election is around the corner? No one is willing to discuss the positive points of immigration. When we say we need to put a cap on the number of people coming to live here, do we relate it to what contribution the people coming in make to our nation? Let's have some constructive immigration talk now.
David Ziwa, Bedford, UK