UK visa scheme under heavy fire

Ian Birrell, co-founder of Africa Express with Damon Albarn and former Deputy Editor of the Independent newspaper, has launched a blistering attack on the UK's Border Agency, highlighting the Wu Tang Clan's recent treatment when they arrived in the UK to tour and play Glastonbury who said they were treated like 'The Taliban', and the plight of Idrissa Soumaoro, who should be rehearsing for the much anticipated Amadou and Mariam tour, but who is stuck in a hotel in Senegal waiting for UK visa paperwork to be completed. In another article by the Observer's Arts and Medias Correspondent Vanessa Thorpe, a number of artistes have said that they are ruling Britian out of future touring plans because of the difficulties in obtaining visas. Russian ballerina Ploina Semionova was almost unable to perform with the English National Ballet in June 2010 because of visa problems, Argentinian dancers Ismael Ludman and Maria Mondino were refused entry at Glasgow in April this year and painist Grigory Sokolov has refused to submit to fingerprinting and eye scans every time he applies for a visa to visit the UK.