IT is no secret that the country is broken. When the number of food banks have grown exponentially, you know there is a problem.

But while politicians shout at each other on the premise the one who shouts loudest will be heard, have they forgotten to listen?

We report today how asylum seekers from Syria are caught in the system sometimes waiting two years for their applications to work in this country to be processed.

They have fled a war torn country and have lost everything - their homes, their possessions, their futures and sometimes their families.

And yet their chance to rebuild their lives is stalled by red tape.

These refugees do not want to live on other people’s grace and favour.

They do not want handouts or charity but that is how they have to live until their applications are processed.

Then they can go to college or get a job and start to rebuild their lives which have been so cruelly blown to smithereens.

The delay in processing the paperwork not only put the applicants in limbo, it threatens to take their dignity and sense of self worth, precious commodities to people who have nothing.

So, we appeal to the politicians, the MPs elected tomorrow, to stop for a moment and listen to people in need.

Let them form your policies, your priorities and the landscape for the future is drawn up.

They have the answers as to how to fix the problems facing our society.

You just have to stop and listen to them.