Let me be crystal clear: I utterly condemn the violence that has taken place on our streets and across the United Kingdom: no ifs, no buts. I express my sympathy to the families of Elsie, aged seven, Alice, aged nine, and Bebe, aged six, who were so callously murdered in Southport. The violent scenes across the United Kingdom in the aftermath of those horrendous murders do nothing to honour their memory. Such actions are illegal, reckless and counterproductive to the vital discussions that we need to have about our country's immigration policies. There can be no doubt that the UK's long-term uncontrolled immigration policy has sparked considerable concerns across the nation. Many citizens, me included, feel that it is contributing to the considerable strain on our public resources. Ignoring those concerns does a huge disservice to the very people whom we claim to represent, regardless of background. The issues deserve proper scrutiny, political debate and policy changes, but never — never — should they result in racist street attacks, whether those be in east, west or south Belfast or across the United Kingdom. No.

It is therefore essential to differentiate between opposing uncontrolled and illegal immigration and opposing immigration altogether. Most people support legal, controlled and managed immigration. Our country has a proud history of welcoming those who seek a better life, who contribute positively to our society and who respect our laws and values. They are vital to sectors such as healthcare, as has been mentioned, in which we rely heavily on skilled professionals from abroad to maintain the quality of our services. Immigration that is tailored to our country's specific needs is beneficial and necessary. Conversely, large-scale, uncontrolled immigration over a prolonged period is causing serious issues for local constituents. As an elected representative, I would be failing my constituents if I were not prepared to speak about those issues in this place.