The home secretary’s reliance on xenophobic fear-mongering won’t help migrants – but seeking help from the EU might

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Sajid Javid’s response to the relatively small numbers of asylum seekers crossing the Channel has been disproportionate (“‘We will do everything we can’ to block asylum claims from Channel crossings”, News, yesterday). However, his more recent statement that the individuals concerned are not “genuine asylum seekers” is also misguided and in my mind, clearly aimed at whipping up anti-refugee rhetoric which increasingly translates into violence by far-right extremists.

Of course, not all those crossing the Channel are genuine refugees, but there is a due legal process to assess whether an asylum seeker is a refugee who should be welcomed, or an economic migrant who can be repatriated. Let us face it, migration is one of the great global challenges.

We need to accept our “share” of refugees but we also need to work on the root cause: we need a supranational co-ordinated strategy for economic development and peace-keeping and, when appropriate, to support refugees in host countries like Turkey.

The UK cannot achieve much on its own, we need to work with our EU partners. The EU, rather than being a problem, could be the solution.

Giuseppe Enrico Bignardi
Durham

With his abhorrent remarks about asylum seekers crossing the Channel, is the current home secretary trying to “out nasty” Theresa May when she held that post? Or is he merely seeking votes having seen how successful racist anti-immigrant propaganda was during the referendum campaign?

G Forward
Stirling

Is there some poetic justice in Brexit?

Given my maternal Caribbean links, one major disconnect I have always had with the UK is the total lack of acknowledgement that Great Britain’s “greatness” (wealth/power/disproportionately large global influence) was almost entirely built on the most brutal exploitation of foreigners.

Having studied history in the UK education system to degree level, it astounded me that the history of slavery was never once included in any module. (I am aware from my own children’s schooling that has changed).

I can only watch with open-mouthed amazement as that same jingoistic, xenophobic, arrogance and racism which “built the empire” is now making a global mockery of Britain in form of Brexit.

Whilst I abhor the self-destructive nature of Brexit and the calamity it has brought to the only country I’ve ever known as home and while I weep for the futures of my children and grandchildren, I have to ask myself – is there some poetic justice in all this?

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

Corbyn should listen to Labour voters

Andrew Grice is right to suggest that Jeremy Corbyn should listen to Labour voters as well as party members (“Most Labour members want a second referendum – but will Corbyn listen to them?”, Voices, yesterday).

When Corbyn pledged to respect the result of the Brexit vote, it wasn’t “constructive ambiguity” but rather a politically principled stand which gave effect to the undertaking by both Tory and Labour parties that the vote was decisive and final.

Grice adds spurious authority to his advice to the Labour leader – to abandon the current priority assigned to create the conditions for a general election – by selectively quoting the results of a current YouGov poll.

He is symptomatically silent on the key findings which are that while 29 per cent of individual members polled oppose Corbyn’s position, 47 per cent support it and one in 20 don’t know.

A further factor which should be taken into account is the balance of opinion – untested by the YouGov poll – among trade union affiliated members. This particular faction is more proletarian in composition than the individual membership and thus more accurately reflects opinion among the kind of people Labour needs to win a general election.

Nick Wright
Faversham

Thank Grayling, I have done my duty

It seems very likely that – thanks to Chris Grayling – we shall shortly regain our rightful place on the top plinth of world maritime powers (“Grayling defends no-deal ferries contract awarded to company without any ships”, News, yesterday).

To emphasise the hard-won success, and newly gained power, can I suggest a change of image leaning towards our glorious past achievements on the ocean-wave?

Shortly the transport secretary should respectfully wear an eye-patch akin to the much venerated Lord Nelson, attend Ramsgate harbour, place his spy-glass to the patch, and magisterially announce: “I see no ferries!”

Britannia rules the waves, no doubt!

Robert Boston
Kingshill

Saudi Arabia’s Netflix censorship is no surprise

After spending 20 years growing up in the United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia’s “younger brother” – the actions Saudi took in criticising the second episode of Patriot Act came as no surprise (“Netflix criticised for pulling comedy in Saudi Arabia”, News, yesterday).

Contrastingly, the ease in which Saudi officials were able to ensure the corporate giant removed the episode from their platform has raised eyebrows.

Recently “mega companies” such as Amazon, Facebook and Google have increased their global influence, leading to debates about the significance of international boundaries.

However, Saudi has flexed its muscles, showing it still retains total authority over what can be accessed inside its borders. Perhaps the US wishes it had as much power and authority over Facebook as Saudi appears to have over Netflix.

Liam Benstead
Address supplied