So on one level, this is a farce rather than a crisis, one that suits both sides to play up rather than end. A British Conservative commentator has cheekily suggested that the UK should take advantage of the situation, and send illegal migrants to Northern Ireland to occupy disused military barracks near the border. The Irish high court stirred the pot further by declaring that the Rwanda threat made the UK unsafe for illegal migrants.

Meanwhile, in advance of local elections this Thursday, Rishi Sunak is clutching joyfully at the present that has been inadvertently given him by Irish ministers, who have claimed that immigrants are heading for Ireland because they’re scared of being deported to Rwanda. As the Irish commentator John McGuirk put it, “the auld enemy has once again been rustled out from the back of the political cupboard, donned in the butcher’s apron, and cast as the oppressor of all things good and decent and celtic.” Simon Harris, the new Taoiseach, goaded by Sinn Fein, clearly feels bound to square up to the Brits. This time, the two countries are in the mire over their own failed immigration policies and tempers are high over allegations that illegal immigrants are streaming from the UK over the border. What ought to be a minor matter that could be resolved amicably between the two parties is then turned into an entertaining political battlefield. The political equivalent is when – usually for pressing electoral reasons – a Taoiseach and a British prime minister saddle up and threaten each other with “unhelpful” legislation.

There is much clattering of swords, at the end of which James falls theatrically to the ground, his troops pursued off the field, and the groundlings gigglingly ask each other the traditional question: “Who won?” You’re supposed to answer: “I don’t know. Surveying the row over immigration policy in Ireland and the UK, I’m reminded of the Sham Fight, an annual event in Northern Ireland, in the tiny County Down village of Scarva, conducted by two groups of men dressed up as soldiers of King Billy and King James.

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