A busy week in the Commons started with wide dismay on President Trump's Executive Order banning the citizens of 7 countries from visiting the US for 90 days and Syrian refugees permanently.
The President had made similar pledges during his election campaign and it may be popular among some of his supporters. This does not mean that it is in the interests of the USA.
To my mind it is simply wrong to stigmatise people on the basis of their nationality. It undermines the great values on which the United States stands and supporters of those values in the countries concerned. It may even help recruitment by terrorist organisations who have long tried to paint the current conflict as them standing against a hostile and discriminatory West.
The US courts have sprung into action, an Attorney General has resigned and from the President’s own party highly influential Senators have set out why they believe this is for the US a “self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism”.
The first task of the UK Government is to protect the interests of our own citizens: very rapidly following British intervention the US Government agreed that the ban would not apply to UK dual nationals. Our second role as a country is more subtle: it is to persuade our closest and greatest ally, with whom we have complete intelligence co-operation and share so much that this policy is for them and therefore the West, the wrong approach.
It is not for the UK Parliament to set the immigration policy of the US – we gave up all notions of that in 1784! The UK does however have influence, not just in the White House but across US politics. Both were reinforced during a successful trip by the Prime Minister last week. To my mind if a long term friend makes a mistake it is critical to speak to them more not less. It is in the interest of the UK and I believe the US that our relationship is as close as possible and we should use every opportunity to build it.
Photo Caption: This weekend saw the preview of the Shipley Music Festival which takes place around the District later this year and has a well deserved terrific reputation. It was a pleasure to meet some of the Festival players from local schools and colleges and the Festival's supporters.