Home secretary David Blunkett yesterday warned against people like him creating an atmosphere of vigilantism against asylum seekers.

"When people like me start talking about asylum seekers 'swamping' Britain, and being wholly unapologetic about it, they only fan the flames of racial hatred," he said.

He continued, "There's a fine line between welcoming asylum seekers into the country, and treating them like criminals when they arrive. People with that two-faced attitude are irresponsible and unfit for public office. They're only good for joining the Immigration Service or editing newspapers."