Don't take it personally, some of you tell me. We want highly skilled immigrants, who contribute greatly to the country, and are not a burden on the state. But, how can I not take it personally? Just as every gay man would be offended by a homophobic sentiment, when all major election parties think of immigration as a 'problem,' it is hard not to take it personally.
Music has always offered the choice between escapism and counterattack. At the time of another Tory meltdown - with draconian benefit cuts and the increasing privatization of the NHS - there is no new sound expressing political protest. Ironically people are voicing their disgust through Judy Garland and a Hollywood escapist fantasy from seven decades ago.
As part of the UK's staunch and diverse efforts to secure a safe and global digital environment which fosters innovation and growth in the internet, on Friday, our Foreign Secretary, William Hague signed the World Economic Forum's (WEF) new set of principles on Cyber Resilience.
I love Britain because the single best thing to come after a night at the pub with pints filled to the top is a full English. I'm not scientist, so I don't understand exactly what the curing factor is. But I've tried croissants, chow mein, burritos... nothing else comes close. You've absolutely nailed it.
As 2012 draws to a close, it is safe to say the past year has represented an inspiring year of achievement and celebration for Great Britain. From the pride in British heritage during the Diamond Jubilee, to the summer Games showcasing the power of individual, we have seen some incredible moments to teach us to embrace and showcase our success.
Sometimes the line between patriotism and nationalism can seem paper-thin. When I stood in the crowd at the Rebellion punk festival in Blackpool last month, the St George's flags and swastikas were clearly visible, yet the same crowd roared with approval when a Jamaican, Usain Bolt, won the 100m sprint final.
Against all my own expectations, the Olympic Games have emerged like unexpected blossom on a tree that only flowers erratically. When was the last time GB could stand so proudly tall? I'm reminded of the post war years when the response to the end of WW2 was to implement the Beveridge Report and build the welfare state. Am I comparing a few sporting triumphs to the construction of, amongst other things, the National Health Service? No - that would be pure bathos. But I am comparing a display of national character, where the choices that were made in a moment of coming together, were open, inclusive and dynamically forward looking.
What is it about being British? We go and invent all the best sports in the world and then give great sportsmen like Andy Murray a hard time about whether he is more Scottish or more British - or ever going to win at Wimbledon.