Planet Normal: 'What sort of country have we become if we can't protect our borders?'

The winter of discontent is in full swing with growing industrial unrest, and the country's broken borders taking centre stage as it emerged migration had risen to record levels.

On the latest Planet Normal podcast, which you can listen to using the audio player above, columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are joined by Alp Mehmet, the Chairman of Migration Watch UK.

Mr Mehmet shares his concerns at the impacts increased levels of immigration are having on our country, particularly the strain on services and infrastructure such as the NHS and housing.

"Immigration at the sort of level that we've got at the moment is economically unsustainable. It is a fiscal cost," Mr Mehmet warned.

"What sort of country have we allowed ourselves to become that we can't protect our borders, that anyone who chooses this country as their destination to live in, somehow we can't say no to them or we are not allowed to say no to them."

"And indeed, the taxpayer has to foot the bill of whatever accommodation needs they have or medical needs and the rest of it," Mr Mehmet said.

Allison agrees that migration levels are too high and believes that the Conservative Party is "hooked on cheap foreign labour."

"They are growing GDP by growing the population, and to hell with the impact on normal people trying to get housing, trying to get rental accommodation, trying to get school places," she said.

"It's an absolute racket and so much for the Australian points-based system that we were sold... I'm really disgusted."

However, Liam is sympathetic towards the Home Secretary, who he believes is having difficulty trying to reduce immigration levels due to a lack of support from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"I feel sorry for Suella Braverman in the sense that I don't actually think she'll get the backing from Downing Street to solve this, and she'll get the blame without the Prime Minister backing her up," he said.

"Because I don't think the Prime Minister has got the stomach for it, frankly."

Liam also warned about the potential cost of allowing immigration to increase at such a rapid rate.

"There is a danger here unless the Tories get hold of this quite quickly."

"It does tear at the social fabric with the gains from immigration accruing largely to the well-off. And the costs of immigration, the sharp end, being borne by those more dependent on services provided by the state."

Listen to Planet Normal, a weekly Telegraph podcast featuring news and views from beyond the bubble, using the audio player above or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast app.