Reader's letter: Asylum policy is clearly designed to fail rather than succeed

Andrew Griffith uses his weekly column to endorse the government's plans to make asylum claims by those arriving in small boats inadmissible (County Times, March 9).

I'd be interested to know more about the methodology behind his claim to speak 'on behalf of the majority of my constituents' in this matter.

Has he canvassed them? How, exactly? Is he 'spinning' a vocal minority as a majority?

It's true, of course, that few people think this route is either satisfactory or sustainable, but the policy of declaring it illegal is clearly designed to fail rather than succeed.

The 'cunning plan' is to create an elephant trap for 'the blob' to fall into – spuriously alleged to be Keir Starmer, the civil service, lawyers, Gary Lineker, anyone living in north London – and, by implication, the liberal minded minority of his constituents.

All in time for the local elections, where his government's failure on economic policy and public services should result in a salutary reckoning.

As for his assertion: 'In 1951 Britain led the way in forming the UNHCR Refugee Convention', he might also point out that in the same year, driven by Winston Churchill, Britain helped create and was among the first to recognise, the European Convention on Human Rights.

The European Court – now so detested by Mr Griffith's colleagues – was subsequently created to interpret the Convention.

In flouting its jurisdiction, the plan he boasts of destabilises both the Brexit withdrawal and the Belfast agreements – international treaties which make copious reference to the crucial role of the ECHR.

In doing so, it threatens not only our relations with Europe and the United States, but Rishi Sunak's recent initiative to mend fences after the disastrous diversions of Etonian populism and Trussonomic delusion.

We could well end up with the worst of both worlds – more small boats and a return to the international wooden spoon.

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