Just when you think Tory politicians have sunk as low as they can go in their attempts to appease the rabid right, they prove you wrong (Robert Jenrick has cartoon murals painted over at children’s asylum centre, 7 July). Robert Jenrick has found a new way to demonstrate his utter lack of empathy, compassion and humanity in ordering Disney scenes to be painted over at a reception centre for children of asylum seekers. Whatever one’s views on immigration and asylum seekers, children should not be used as pawns by politicians of any party. Jenrick should be ashamed.
Dr Stephen Pacey
North Muskham, Nottinghamshire
• The paintings had been done to give comfort to lone children, some as young as nine, terrified after arriving in the UK by small boats. The hostile environment has become so entrenched that some have lost sight of all humanity. We can only hope that the next election sees those seats coloured blue on the electoral map similarly painted over.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
• In reading recently about British attitudes towards the 4,000 Basque children brought to this country post-Guernica in April 1937, I’ve been struck by clear parallels with the political and moral debate today.
While a Tory MP at that time urged the public not to contribute money to the “little Basque devils”, a correspondent from Shipley wrote to a local newspaper in July 1937: “The Spanish children now in England are innocent victims of a war which was not of their seeking. Only a warped judgment would describe as impudent the attempt to feed and clothe these children … All too often the plea ‘charity begins at home’ serves as a cloak for uncharitableness.”
Peter Howarth
Leeds
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