SIR – Mr Hobsbaum dismisses UKIP as a temporary nuisance, which will undoubtedly wane in influence (Letters, April 17).
It is certainly true that UKIP’s message tends towards a certain simplicity, but that is an important part of its appeal.
The public have lost faith in the political process, and with conventional parties, and UKIP offers of fresh perspective.
The political classes have steadfastly refused to hold a referendum regarding our membership of the European Union. The last referendum held in 1975 was to ratify whether we were to remain members of a “common market”.
UKIP’s emergence has forced the Conservative Party to commit itself to a referendum in 2017, while the other two parties have precluded any possibility of such an undertaking.
Should we leave the European Union, we would be better able to control our borders and thus population levels more effectively.
It might be expected that the Green Party would be more committed in advocating sustainable population levels, but because of its strong Marxist influences, considers such matters as racist in tone.
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