Ayesha Hazarika These Channel boats demand serious solutions, not screams of invasion'

We need a complete reset. If you think we should ignore what is happening on the Kent coast, you’re wrong

IMMIGRATION is back on the news agenda and it's as raw, difficult and upsetting as ever. The petrol bombing of a migrant centre in Dover was sickening and took me right back to the murder of Jo Cox.

For all the bluster around taking back control, it feels like we have learnt very little about how to discuss immigration with decency and how to find achievable, humane solutions through consensus.

The Left doesn't want to talk about it and the Right wants to demonise migrants.

Both positions are irresponsible.

We cannot have open borders. Nor can we close them and hermetically seal ourselves off from the world. We need to control numbers so we can plan and allocate resources; we need immigration to enhance our economy and society. We are crying out for more planned immigration right now, with crippling post-Brexit labour shortages.

And we are clearly a destination point for many who want to come and make a life here for good reasons including family connections and language (although Germany, France, Spain and Greece are more popular than the UK).