Sir – Last November, a multi-signatory letter was published in this newspaper under the title Unfriendly Britain.

It warned of the impact the Government’s nasty “ID cards for foreigners” spin would have on our cultural and economic life.

We warned that people would be put off from coming here, and that the loss of their skilled labour would damage the economy.

Only months into the scheme, the Wool Marketing Board is warning of a crisis facing sheep farmers. They are unable to find the skilled labour to shear their sheep, meaning wool goes unsold.

Furthermore, if we have hot weather this summer, livestock across Oxfordshire and the rest of the country will suffer.

The reason farmers can’t attract the labour required is that the Australian and New Zealand gangs of shearers who come here annually have decided this year the cost, hassle, and intrusive bureaucratic process necessary to obtain a biometric ID card means it’s no longer worth their effort.

Who can blame our cousins Down Under for not wanting to be guinea pigs for a scheme that could soon be unleashed on the rest of us? If this scheme continues you can be sure of one thing, it’s not just the sheep that will be feeling the heat this summer.

Chris Rimmer, Chairman, Oxford NO2ID, Kennington