There is now unfolding the greatest diaspora since the end of WWII involving traumatised multidudes in flight from their collapsing countries who arrive on the borders of what they suppose to be humanity and safety. They are greeted by chaos confusion and bitter wrangling among an organisation allegedly united in its defence of freedom and human rights. This is a crisis for these people, but it is also a crisis for the EU. First it failed over the euro; it fails again at the fundamentals of what it stands for. It is not difficult to set up reception centres at all the points of entry funded and manned by the EU and then to share among more than a score of countries those deserving of asylum. Yet it seems beyond everyone to do this.
Germany alone is showing it is up to the challenge and willing to help on the scale required. Merkel has restored her country’s reputation, tarnished by its harsh attitude to Greece. Britain’s position is awkward. To walk away and refuse to take a proper quota of the needy, in need because of the interventionist policies of the West which wrecked the order of governance across the region, is especially bad when Britain was the lead player for Europe in those interventions. The problem is that years of austerity have caused so many cutbacks and shrinkages in public services that ordinary people are deeply suspicious, even hostile, to a further influx of refugees from overseas, however worthy the cause.
Time for Cameron to show leadership and do what is right. He is always talking about doing what is right. Now is his chance.