Racist? Read the manifestoand find out all about us

The UK Independence Party has enshrined in its constitution the principle of being a non-racist, non-sectarian political party, and will remove any member found to have discriminatory views '“ and has, indeed, done so in the past.

It further saddens me that of all of the avenues available to Mr Haigh to acquire the actual facts about UKIP he could have used, he has instead stuck to his narrow-minded politically-correct ignorance of the facts regarding UKIP.

If Mr Haigh had taken the trouble to check the official party website or contact his local branch for information, he would have been able to read the party constitution and manifesto to gain a true picture of the party and its policies.

For example, Mr Haigh infers UKIP wants to 'close our borders'. The policy of the UK Independence Party is to adopt a balanced and controlled immigration policy based upon the model used in Australia '“ the issue is space, not race.

UKIP, like all political parties in this country, has a policy on immigration, which is not based on bias or hatred, but on addressing the issues facing this country in a common-sense fashion, and which if not addressed will ultimately affect us all regardless of sex, colour or creed.

I am a West Indian by birth and UKIP has members of many different races. I am sure we would not be involved with, or be a member, of any racist organisation. In the elections for the UKIP national executive council in 2006, I received the second-highest number of votes from party members, out of more than 40 candidates contesting the election, exceeded only by the current party leader. Is that the action of a racist organisation?

I have met many members of the UK Independence Party in the years I have been involved with the organisation, and have never heard or seen anyone acting in a racist manner.

I am the NEC member with responsibility for the youth/young members' section within the party, and while it is true that a lot of our members are senior in age (as with all UK political parties), we have a growing number of young people.

Perhaps Mr Haigh would like to contact me with regards to joining this organisation, so he can develop a more rounded picture of the party and our society?

A few months ago we had Trevor Phillips, head of the Racial Equality Commission, prime minister Tony Blair and many other political people questioning the concept of '˜multi- culturalism' and ethnic diversity. By following Mr Haigh's reasoning, these individuals should belong to the BNP.

I can only assume that Mr Haigh has confused UKIP with the BNP.

Mr Haigh claims he 'is all for freedom of expression, principles of equality, fairness and diversity highest of all'. I personally, and we as a party, hold these principles also in the highest regard.

It is somewhat of a pity his claim to fairness is not practised in his journalistic endeavours

Delroy Young, UKIP NEC member for youth affairs

How saddening to find an A-level student so totally ignorant of the facts yet rushing into print, without checking them first '“ and especially so when he wishes to be a journalist.

James Haigh's appraisal of UKIP is outrageous garbage. As a student, he clearly has a long way to go. It's G-minus for that particular effort!

Of course he is entitled to his opinion, but preferably when they are based on fact and not on ill-informed prejudice.

One would expect so much better from a student in modern times with so many resources available to consult and acquire knowledge.

He says fairness is one of his highest principles, but he has certainly not been fair to UKIP.

The article is so incredulous it prompts all manner of questions: Does he have a computer? Can he not use the internet? Does he know what researching is? Does he know what a party manifesto is? Does he bother to read factual information? In this case, all he had to do was go to UKIP.org on the internet: look, read and inwardly digest.

UKIP has written into its constitution that it is a non-racist, non-sectarian political party and will remove any member found to have overtly racist views.

UKIP does not have any attributes of policy which James mentions, and which he mixes up with the BNP's policies.

UKIP does not want to stop immigration, but does want controlled immigration and strictly controlled borders; a points system for immigrants, as in Australia, which is based on the needs of the country. This is not racist, it is common sense.

As for the democratic process, UKIP wants to incorporate binding referenda into British politics for controversial local and national issues. None of the current parties would dare consider putting that direct form of real, effective democracy into their manifestoes.

UKIP is not single issue, has a full range of policies and is actively engaged in producing radical new ideas from policy groups.

It has produced papers well received in the City already, for example the paper on a flat tax system and transport policy. Its prime policy, however, is to regain the sovereignty of parliament, which has been stolen from the British people by the old sclerotic parties '“ the LibLabCon.

James obviously knows nothing about UKIP and should immediately go to its website and do what students are supposed to do '“ learn the facts first, before opening the mouth.

He could also join our new youth movement which is becoming very active in some universities '“ though he would have to join the party first.

Douglas Denny, NEC member and ex-party secretary, UKIP

Bosham.

I, and many of our members and supporters, were very much encouraged by James Haigh's column in the Observer.

The fact is young men and women are waking up to realise they are indeed the future in both the cultural and political sense.

But I am afraid the main points made against UKIP, the fastest- growing real democratic party, are wrong '“ it is, in fact, a non-racist party and many are of an older generation who fought against the nazi hordes.

James, if the knowledge you portray is a result of teaching of political views by your teachers and elders at school, beware of their political correctness, and over- zealous left-wing attachments. Become your own man, look at all sides of problems, local national and international, the EU in particular.

May I suggest you, your classmates and even your parents, accept an invitation to hear UKIP's views on local and wider issues at a public meeting at the Alexandra Theatre (Hotham Arts Centre) on Tuesday, March 27 at 7.30pm.

We have interesting speakers and any questions you may have will be answered at Question Time. You will be most welcome.

Don Porter, chairman, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton UKIP, Cardinals Drive, Pagham