Illegal migration, anti-Israel marches and crime push UK to its breaking point

Despite what some politicians, activists and parts of the media will have you believe, Britain is a fair and tolerant place to live - but our tolerance is being stretched to breaking point. Compare our nation to others around the world and it is plain to see that we are a caring and compassionate country. The British have always had a sense of fair play and a reputation for backing the underdog, but these days it feels like we are being taken for mugs. There are 'pro-Palestinian' marches most weekends in London that cost the taxpayer a fortune to police.

This is only right in a functioning democracy; yet these marches are no longer 'pro-Palestine,' but 'anti-Israel' with participants openly calling for that country's destruction. A recent march following Israel's bombing of Iran to remove a nuclear threat saw banners calling for Brits to support Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - Iran's supreme leader. The fact that he has spent three decades brutally crushing any form of dissent or political opposition in his country is completely ignored by these so-called protesters.

They also conveniently forget that if they lived in Iran, they would not have the freedom to protest as they do in Britain. If they did, they would end up in a dungeon somewhere or far worse. And the country they are so keen on supporting has zero respect for women's rights and hangs people for being gay.

This is obviously completely at odds with the British way of life, yet we allow thousands of people to bring parts of our capital city to a standstill as they march through the streets. We do this because we recognise the importance of freedom of speech and the right to protest in a democracy, but it comes at a price.

Not only does the taxpayer pick up the tab to pay for all the additional policing, but they see police officers from around the country being drafted in to deal with these protests. It is not right that policing in other parts of the country should be affected to support these marches.

An investigation by this newspaper revealed last week that migrants who had arrived in this country by crossing the Channel in small boats are working illegally as delivery drivers for some of the UK's biggest companies. The report revealed that some are earning as much as £1,000 a week whilst living in hotels or accommodation paid for by the taxpayer.

Britain has an excellent and proud history of supporting those fleeing genuine tyranny, but many of these arrivals are simply economic migrants. Within days of arriving in the UK, they are breaking the law by working illegally. Once again, the British sense of fair play gets a kick in the guts.

Add to this the fact that those in taxpayer-funded accommodation also get access to public services and healthcare in a way most folk can only dream of, and it doubly stings. This is not about demonising migrants, but if you are a guest of a country then it is only right that you abide by its laws, especially when they are such generous hosts.

We are living in a time where those that shout the loudest get what they want and those who break the law escape with little or no punishment. Shoplifting is rife across the country with staff told not to tackle those nicking stuff off the shelves. Parts of London are a hotbed of smartphone and jewellery robbery.

We are told not to use our phones in public or wear a nice watch as it might be stolen. All of us should be able to walk the streets of any town and city and feel safe in the knowledge that someone is not going to nab something off us just because we dare to have it on display.

Drug dealing - and taking - happens in open sight and nobody bats an eyelid. The authorities seem to spend too much time trying to understand the causes of crime whereas decent law-abiding taxpayers just want those breaking the law properly punished so they do not do it again. Culprits need to learn a lesson by having their liberties curtailed as opposed to being asked what would make life better for them.

It will take a brave politician to deal with any of this. I am not sure the talent or willpower currently exists to tackle this growing sense of despair and resignation felt by many of us in the UK. One thing is clear though: the British sense of tolerance, fair play, generosity and goodwill is now stretched to the max and we will not put up with it for much longer.