Not many people would have given you good odds on New Labour sinking even lower once Tony Blair had left power, but nevertheless they have managed it. With Pride London due up in two weeks time our Home Secretary has blithely announced that gays are perfectly safe in Iran, as long as they are “discreet”. Just in case you have forgotten, Iran is one of those countries in which homosexuality is punishable by death. But Jacqui Smith thinks you’ll be OK if you just, you know, keep quiet about it.

Regardless of the absurdity of that claim, I note that going to a foreign country and asking for political asylum is not, by any stretch of the imagination, being discreet. And therefore by sending such asylum seekers back to Iran Ms Smith is condemning them to death, regardless of whatever spin fantasies she might concoct to try to salve her conscience.