MAYBE HE IS BUSH'S POODLE:

Amnesty plan for 500,000 illegal migrants (Philip Johnston, 14/06/2006, Daily Telegraph)

The prospect of an amnesty for more than half a million illegal immigrants was raised by the Home Office for the first time last night.

Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, refused to rule one out when he was questioned by the Commons home affairs select committee.

Pressure has been growing on the Government from unions and religious leaders to consider ''regularising'' the position of an estimated 570,000 economic migrants and failed asylum seekers who are unlikely ever to go home.