The number of asylum claimants in the UK rose by 27% in the first three months of 2009 to more than 8,300.
The Home Office reports the main driver as Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe's government continues to abuse the human rights of its citizens.
However, the Home Office also reports that the number of east Europeans granted national insurance numbers - and the right to work - has fallen by 71,000. Even Phil Woolas, the immigration minister, admitted that immigration levels were "balancing".
So why did he need to come out with the statement, "we are making the UK a more hostile place for illegal immigrants"?
Not only was he connecting illegal immigration with asylum - claiming asylum status is NOT illegal - but under the terms of the European single market, many east Europeans are entitled to seek work here.
Worse, there was a certain pride that the UK was becoming a more "hostile" place.
Both sides of the House of Commons accuse each other of being the "nasty party".
After Woolas's considered analysis I ask: are we now the nasty country?
phil woolas is just showing everyone what a useless prat he is.