John Reid at Sidney Street

The BBC reports:

Home Secretary John Reid has been accused of possibly putting efforts to deport foreign prisoners at risk after joining a series of dawn raids.

He watched a team of immigration officers raiding homes in London.

They were trying to arrest some of the foreign prisoners released without being considered for deportation.

Immigration experts and the Tories have raised fears the raids make it difficult for Mr Reid if he has to make decisions about deportations later.

All very reminiscent of Balfour's comment on Churchill's conduct over the Siege of Sidney Street:

"I understand what the photographer was doing but why the Home Secretary?"