IAN Martin (SNJ letters October 21) suggests that a sea of piety envelops the European migrant crisis.

May I add that ignorance too (some of it surely wilful) also mistakenly informs the debate.

Some of the prime offenders are the Church of England, notably the Bishops who demanded last week that the government agree to admit to Britain many, many more migrants than the number first announced.

A spokesman for the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker – who has declared that he won’t entertain any of the migrants in his six bedroom Church-provided home because of language and culture difficulties – said on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme: “House allocation is not a problem on this one.”

Two days later the media informed us that the footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have agreed to temporarily house (until February) already homeless Manchester residents in a large business premises which they have acquired for development.

Well done them.

Further evidence shows that the UK is ill-equipped to support the outlook of the Church.

In Leeds three weeks ago, activists were jailed (sic) for attempting to secure accommodation for homeless families in an unused bank premises and the working class are being driven from London because of unaffordable rents.

The Bishop’s policy is one that will create resentment – how sad that they hadn’t noticed the rootless families in the Northern Powerhouse before now.

Confirmation that accommodation will most definitely be a problem is pointed out by the new Crisis at Christmas charity appeal which states that: “Thousands will be sleeping on the streets this Christmas.”

This can be confirmed by taking a short walk at any time of year close to Victoria coach station in London.

Unfortunately, Stroud is not exempt from this religious grandstanding.

In November last year, the local Ukip PCC was roundly condemned for not signing a pledge – supported by Christian Aid – to commit “to taking further action to climate change”. Other political parties enthusiastically signed up, and their photo – holding the signed document – was published in the SNJ.

It was noticeable however that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York (by way of ‘custom’ apparently) and the Bishop of London, declined to sign the Bishop’s migrant letter.

It would also seem a fact that the Church, certainly in Minchinhampton and other Gloucestershire locations, actually contribute to global warming (if indeed that’s what it is).

How? The church here (and others) bask nightly in floodlit splendour for hours. Is this not a waste of energy?

Whether the light comes from renewables or not (details of source would be interesting) the light might be better utilised by some of those ‘suffering the scourge of poverty’, so accurately described by Dick Greensdale in his recent letter (SNJ, October 21 again).

Actually much of the UK is suffering poverty at the moment despite the claim - repeated by the SNJ in its support for the migrant influx - that our country is the fifth richest in the world - our NHS is on its knees, hospitals are in special measures, the Police are bleeding staff, the justice system - so important for the working class - is close to collapse, mental health care is in crisis, education is at breaking point, drains are never cleared, roads are in permanent and worsening decay, care for the elderly is in critical decline, prisons are not fit for purpose and the number of foodbanks increase.

Seems like everything is just dandy.

No doubt the 330,000 net migrants to the UK in the past 12 months are sharing the pain, a pain exacerbated by not being able to find civilised accommodation.

No doubt they too will be hit by the upcoming withdrawal of tax credits.

All in all a fine start to their dream of ‘a better life’.

In his SNJ September 9 column, Neil Carmichael suggested that ‘without a strategic view and willingness to act, the humanitarian crisis will get worse and further threats to our security... will emerge’.

The lack of that strategic view – a view which, with application, is always available – is highlighted by a recent headline: “UN aid agencies on brink as cash donations run out.”

This crisis was entirely foreseeable.

I outlined it in a letter which the SNJ printed in late 2013, so if an ageing carrot cruncher like me can spot the problem, why can’t our politicians? One thing however is most troubling about the clamour to relieve the suffering of migrants.

On the day of the recent Stroud meeting regarding the migrant problem I received a charity letter appealing for funds to help alleviate the suffering of infants in Africa.

The image used by the charity was of a black child barely able to stand because of malnutrition.

I’ve not lately seen the bishops or anyone else express their concern for such suffering, much less volunteer to help them travel to the EU by air so that they might be assisted in their plight.

Does anyone know why this assistance is not forthcoming?

Heaven forbid that it might be a problem firmly planted in the “too difficult” tray.

Roger Gough

Minchinhampton