The Scottish Government hit out after the decision was reached before ministers from across the UK saw Portuguese data.

“As a point of principle, permitting any lawlessness will erode the public’s confidence in the system."

On Friday night the words “Rise above fear. Refugees welcome” were beamed onto the White Cliffs of Dover by humanitarian charity Freedom From Torture.

“The Tories’ long-standing disdain for the UK’s global aid efforts is no secret, however, their recent attempts to dismantle the UK’s international development system has gone from rhetoric to reality."

This includes “the limited vocabulary, the simplicity of the messaging, the disdain for political correctness, the sometimes incendiary imagery, and the at best intermittent relationship with facts and the truth”

The comments were contained in a memo as officials were directed to crack down on spending relating to learning about subjects like white privilege.

Readers of The Sun and The Times were told on Twitter that the protest action could mean delayed deliveries of papers to newsagents on Saturday morning.

"Whichever Australian traded Tony Abbott to Britain,” remarked local cartoonist Jon Kudelka, “is the person Britain actually needs to help them with trade.”

“These skills created livelihood opportunities for refugees and supported the refugee community."