SUDDENLY, the Prime Minister and everybody is mentioning it, dropping it into conversation.

Even MPs are addressing their parties and the press, strangely.

All this, but still no one really discusses ‘the elephant in the room’, which is — yes, you’ve guessed it — immigration!

Why? It’s because everyone is running scared of being labelled a racist.

But it’s not about race. It’s about the one subject that is of vital importance to all of us, not just the indigenous population, but the resident and long-term immigrants, economists, business people, health and housing providers, planners and, of course, politicians.

Why must it be discussed? Because we are running out of space, time and money and, in my case, as with most, patience. Let’s get it sorted.

It was brought home strongly to me on Sunday at the St George’s commemorative service, which was held in our awe-inspiring cathedral.

I was reminded of a plaque that I have in my bedroom, which says ‘British by birth, English by the grace of God’.

And as I listened to Sir David Trippier giving his address about St George, I had to agree with what he said.

As a nation we are far too self-effacing, soft even.

We don’t push ourselves forward and we have become so tolerant, so easy-going that we are taken advantage of and are being looked on as a soft touch by other nationalities and nations.

The Irish, Welsh and the Scots have their saints and their saints days and tell the world that they are not English, but that doesn’t stop them taking our money, or sitting in our Parliament, voting on laws that affect us.

We should have an English Parliament, where only English MPs can vote on things concerning England.

But back to Sunday at the cathedral and splendid turn-out, the great feeling of unity and, for good measure, the uplifting music played by the Salvation Army brass band.

All that and glorious weather made a great day.