What Does Smith Rhyme With?

The deputy leader of Israel’s Likud party, Moshe Feiglin, has been excluded from Britain by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith using powers invoked after the July 2005 London bombings — even though he had no plans to visit.

In a two-page letter sent to Mr Feiglin’s office in Ginot Shomron, an unnamed Border and Immigration Agency official, writing on Ms Smith’s behalf, cited articles written by Mr Feiglin and said she had “personally directed” that he be banned.

The letter said: “It is considered that you are seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK.

“In light of these factors, the Home Secretary is satisfied you should be excluded from the UK on the grounds that your exclusion is conducive to the public good.” There is no right of appeal.