Dublin migrant riots show bitter irony of diversity-obsessed politicians' efforts

Ireland goes to the polls today to elect a new president. Whoever wins will inherit a deeply troubled land. Like other western European nations Ireland has been thrown into turmoil by unprecedented levels of mass immigration. In each of the last four years, more than 100,000 newcomers have arrived, making a huge impact on a small island whose population is only 5.7 million.

This demographical upheaval has not only led to fears about the strain on the country's infrastructure and the potential loss of Ireland's unique character, but has also stoked combustible social tensions. Tuesday night saw rioting outside the building which was once Dublin's largest hotel and now houses asylum seekers, after reports that an African asylum seekerhad raped a 10-year-old girl. As public anger grows, confrontations with the police and angry demonstrations have become common in recent months.

There are two great ironies here. First, Ireland was until recently a land of emigration, with huge numbers of its people leaving to seek their fortunes abroad. It was a non-stop exodus that made Ireland one of the most homogenous nations on earth. Second, the partition of the island in 1921 to accommodate the new British state of Northern Ireland fed division, sectarianism and distrust.

The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 did much to end that mood of strife. Now, in their folly, the diversity-obsessed politicians are bringing back the discord.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The great England cricketer Sir Geoffrey Boycott is 85 this week. His has been a remarkable life, full of achievement, controversy and, above all, supreme dedication to his craft. Despite only limited talent, he drove himself to become Test cricket's heaviest run-scorer. Later he became a legend in the commentary box and a heroic survivor from cancer. Writing his biography was one of the greatest privileges of my career.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prince Andrew has plunged the monarchy into its greatest crisis since the Abdication in 1936. He could not have done more damage to the Royal Family if he had been a secret plant from a Revolutionary Cuban Anarcho-Marxist syndicate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Prime Minister is often derided for his lack of conviction. But the charge is unfair. Ever since his youth he has believed in socialism, and he is now implementing this creed. The lesson of history is that socialism always results in higher taxes, bigger debts, greater unemployment, larger bureaucracies, lower productivity, and deeper poverty. Sir Keir is fulfilling his vision triumphantly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A report this week estimates that a third of clinicians' working time is taken up by administration. One doctor vividly described how "the suffocating grip of red tape wraps itself round every element of life in the NHS".

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Eurostar has just announced that it is to start running double-decker trains from 2031. Such rolling stock has been almost unknown in Britain because of the restricted dimensions of tracks, tunnels and bridges on our network.

But there was one intriguing experiment after the war on the commuter line to Dartford in Kent when Oliver Bulleid, the innovative chief engineer of British Railways' Southern Region, designed a train which featured alternating high and low compartments.

First in service in November 1949 and known as the 4DD, two of these vehicles were built and remained operational until 1971, despite their unpopularity with passengers who found them cramped and stuffy. There will be few complaints like that about Eurostar's luxurious new fleet.