Two years ago official figures claimed that the UK's population would rise from its present 61 million to over 71 million by the years 2074. The consequences of such a rise in pressure for homes and jobs, food shortages, destruction of the green belt and an immense rise in CO2 emissions are almost too horrific to contemplate.
It must now be becoming clear that such an increase in the UK's population is simply unsustainable. As the politicians meet in Copenhagen to hammer out solutions to the environmental issues threatening humanity's survival, surely our inability to stop re-producing at an alarming rate must be high on the agenda.
If the prospect of population overload by 2074 were not enough, we are now being told that the 71 million total will be reached by 2029, less than a third of the time we thought we had.
No less an authority than Jonathan Porritt (for years Chairman of the government's Sustainability Development Commission) is now saying that rather than a further 10 million increase in our current population, it is imperative that we reduce the number of inhabitants on these islands to around 30 million, otherwise our way of life will end with us.
Some will say this is alarmist. They argue that although the numbers entering Britain last year rose yet again to 163,000, there was actually a net loss overall thanks to greater numbers leaving these shore for ever. The BNP have leapt on this fact to point out helpfully that it is the indigenous white population that is leaving and largely Asian immigrants who are taking their place.
Their's is a racist drum with which I have no sympathy but they beat it to good effect in the hearing of many white anglo-saxon natives. Now, it appears, their message is really getting through. A YouGov poll for Migrationwatch UK says that 75% of voters are very concerned about immigration, and nearly two thirds(62%)of Labour and Liberal Democrat voters favour slashing annual immigration to 50,000 (a figure that would apparently allow us to stay below 70 million overall). To make matters worse, it seems that 77% say that the government figures are not to trusted. We no longer believe what politicians say to us on the subject of immigration.
If we are to live in a sustainable way the very least we should be doing is maintaining our population at levels no greater than we already have, although even that may not be enough. I would rather tackle the issue on the basis of a desire to live at one with the created order we have been entrusted with as stewards of God's work, than spurred on by racists with little Englander policies.
What is inescapable is the pressing need for a real change in the way we live if our planet is to survive. God give us the vision and the moral courage to address these challenges for the sake of all his people.
