It’s astonishing that Irish and British commentators are trying to hold on to these old familiar tunes.

Progressives in Ireland and, until recently, the UK prided themselves on their European identity. And yet, they are the last countries in Europe holding on to the taboo that immigration is an unmixed blessing. Increasingly, to maintain this, they have to resort, like this commentator, to conspiracy theories about billionaires brainwashing the masses, whom they also miscast in their contempt as easily-manipulated and gormless.