UK

Analysis: Tory right seizes on Irish ‘hypocrisy’ as asylum row fades away in Westminster

Ireland’s emergency legislation has become something of a sideshow in the never-ending wrangling over asylum claims and illegal migration in the UK

Westminster’s focus on Tuesday moved from the row with Dublin to new data suggesting that British officials had lost contact with thousands of asylum seekers, some of whom might be destined for Rwanda. Picture: Getty

When Chris Heaton-Harris and Micheál Martin faced reporters on Monday, the Northern Ireland Secretary was quick to joke about the larger-than-expected attendance at British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting.

But in the hours after the two politicians spoke, it became clear that the row between the Irish government and the UK over the Rwanda plan and asylum claims has generated just as much confusion as it has recrimination.

Of course, there has been plenty of the latter. ...