When is a refugee not genuinely a refugee?

MR ROBINS disputes with Mr Clarke the proper terminology for the vast numbers of mainly undocumented men who choose the UK as their preferred destination, after passing through many other safe countries.

Why do they appear to abandon their families in many cases? A refugee is a refugee until safety is reached, after which point the definition will change. Many, or most in Calais, may have initially been refugees but certainly are not now.

Today's Letters

Mr Robins also points out that much recent terrorism is ‘home grown’ but fails to join up the dots to realise that the majority of so-called ‘Calais refugees’ would appear to share important aspects of cultural, political or religious affinity with these ‘home grown’ terrorists which causes great national unease. The UK foreign aid budget of £12bn annually could be spent establishing refugee camps in suitable north African countries.

Large numbers entering the country put huge pressure on all public services including housing, health and my primary concern, schools.

S NICHOLSON

Campbell Road,

Oxford