Monday 9th May

“The Suitcase or the Coffin” was a rather black catchphrase used by Algerians at the time of the Independence struggle in the Fifties, where protracted fighting went on with vicious reprisals from both sides.  France of course lost, as she lost all of her empire and indeed as Britain did at around the same time; mostly we avoided Civil wars by granting Independence, especially in Africa – but this was rarely a smooth transition, even if the creation of the Commonwealth was a stroke of genius.

And now as Europe is besieged by wave after wave of refugees from the war-torn Middle East and North Africa that phrase comes back to haunt us.  The suitcase or the coffin; and just as many Jews in Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria and then Poland, France and the Low Countries discovered  – the suitcase, even empty of most of your possessions is the only real choice.  Britain welcomed thousands and thousands of Jewish people in the years just preceding World War Two.  And I am sure there were voices, and not only Mosley, who were calling for them to be refused entry then – just as now UKIP is, maybe using subtler language, issuing warnings against Immigration – the new euphemism for racist nods and winks.  In America Donald Trump is not so subtle, and his message is being received enthusiastically by a largely uneducated public.  His promises to, not only build a wall along the Mexican border, but to refuse entry to Muslims coming to America, is just the first step down the Nazi road.  And just as in the Thirties we welcomed the Jews, so we should welcome the Syrians and Libyans.

And on this day when we celebrate the election of the first Muslim Mayor of a major city anywhere in Europe we should give thanks to the waves of immigrants who have contributed so wonderfully to our culture and way of life; the Irish, the Scots, the Jews, the Afro-Carribeans, those from the Indian Sub-Continent, the Eastern Europeans and even now the Chinese.  Welcome, you have all enriched our lives wonderfully.  And though many of you did not have to choose between ‘the suitcase or the coffin’ we still welcome you.