I confess that I had never heard of classical organist Cameron Carpenter who has apparently won Grammy’s for his endeavours until I read this piece in the Guardian. He had been invited to perform in a concert in Birmingham and thankfully for the people who had paid to see him, he had arranged to be here two days before the concert. His intention was to use some of that time to practice his work in the venue concerned. Sadly that forward planning came to nothing as he was first detained, then deported and then able to catch the next plane back from his home in America just in time to perform at the Concert.

Apparently when Mr Carpenter first arrived, he did not have all of his papers fully in order, but the UK Border Agency officials he spoke to, along with their private sector partners Tascor were seemingly unaware of the permitted paid engagement scheme for artists and musicians under which he could enter the country. Wheras Mr Carpenter had allowed only two days to get to Birmingham, the UKBA officials should have known about the scheme two years ago. Needless to say Mr Carpenter was not terribly impressed. He was held for 7 hours over night at the Airport and in that time apparently unable to sleep. There was certainly no bed provided. According to UKBA he was provided with food and because he did not complain, there is a presumption that he was not unhappy, according to responses from the Home Office.

Thankfully for Mr Carpenter, he had his case taken up be a member of the House of Lords, the unelected Earl of Clancarty who used his influence to press the Home Office for an apology. However the equally unelected Lord Taylor of Holbeach (pictured above), Home Office minister has written to Earl Clancarty telling him the investigation into allegations of all-night sleep deprivation and other heavy-handedness had established that no mistreatment occurred. Because of this our Government will not be apologising to Cameron Carpenter or indeed to those concert goers who were almost denied the opportunity to hear their idol. In case anyone is interested, that is not the sort of standard of welcome I expect my Government to maintain. In fact I am ashamed of my Government and its actions. Lord Taylor who has never been elected is described as a friend of Poland. Would it have helped if Mr Carpenter had been a Polish musician I wonder?