Open Britain / 16 June 2008
http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/open-britain
Philippe Legrain
"As moral panic about immigration sweeps Britain, ‘bogus asylum-seekers' are the focus of particular hatred. They appear to validate the prejudice that dastardly foreigners cannot be trusted to ‘play by the rules' and want to abuse our generous hospitality. In order to protect Britain from these shady low-lifes - doubtless would-be benefit cheats, criminals or even terrorists - the government surely has no option but to compromise its well-meaning instincts and crack down ever harder on all asylum applicants. If that entails people fleeing persecution suffering further mistreatment upon arrival in Britain, so be it: blame the bogus claimants, not the government."