Last week the Prime Minister announced that the Government plans to restrict the handing out of welfare benefits to migrants (particularly those with no connection to the UK) and to make sure that this country is no longer seen as a “soft touch”. About time too you may say, haven’t we been demanding this for years?

Of course, there will be those who feel that this is discriminatory and that the UK should extend a warm welcome, free housing, free education, free medical treatment and cash to all comers. Fortunately, these dreamers now appear to be in the minority and even the most politically correct and altruistic realise that this country is deep in the mire and that, after all, there isn’t quite enough to go round.

For nearly five years this country (along with most of the world) has been in the grip of a recession, depression more like, that is showing no sign of abating. Austerity is the buzz word these days and newspapers are full of announcements of further cuts being made to public services, whether to the NHS, education, transport or law and order.

Of course, in an ideal world, it would be nice to extend a charitable welcome to all, but this is not an ideal world. Charity begins at home and the cupboard is bare. We cannot give what we haven’t got. Our resources are stretched to breaking point and the sooner that message is delivered to the rest of the world the better for all of us. That is not discriminatory and nor is it reactionary or racist. It is the truth.