So I take it Frank Field and Nicholas Soames want us to leave the EU?

After all Field, a Labour MP and Soames, a Tory MP, are today to publish a letter to the Party Leaders calling for immigration to be more heavily restricted until unemployment has more than halved. Economic migrants should also have to undergo an English language test, in their opinion.

All sensible stuff. Problem is, we are in the European Union. That means we have open-borders with 26 other EU member states. The result is that the best we can hope for is the current system whereby those from outside the EU face restrictions to entering the country, while those inside the EU are free to come and go. It is a system of discrimination and a national disgrace.

What is even worse though is that I'm sure in Gordon Brown's speech today and in fact whenever the old Party Leaders debate the issue, they talk about immigration controls then reluctantly mutter the term "from outside the EU". The fact is that to a great degree, our borders have been handed over to Brussels. We are a part of the EU's grand project and the free movement of peoples is a fundamental part of this.

So, if Nicholas Soames and Frank Field want to address the issue properly, I take it they will be dealing with this unfortunate yet incredibly important EU angle. I take it they will highlight the damage that uncontrolled mass immigration has had. And I take it they will denounce our EU membership as destructive and needless.

On second thoughts, I won't hold my breath.