Never before in Britain has there been such a toxic climate of public opinion towards immigration of any kind – particularly towards the irregular entry of refugees, people who are often dehumanisingly and erroneously labelled “illegals”.
In the week that began with Holocaust Memorial Day, it is only right to stress once again the importance of the language we use around such sensitive matters, and to recall that for as long as the UK remains a member of the European Convention on Human Rights, there is an unqualified right in international law to claim asylum here (though not, of course, to be granted it). It is equally important to note that the Convention does not provide for any national caps on asylum. The quality of mercy, at least according to the Convention, shall not be strained by any minister of the crown.
