Just occasionally I question the decision I took after the Brexit vote to make Sweden my main home, and to take on Swedish citizenship, in order to be part of the EU again. My doubts stem from the rise of the far Right here, in the form of the ‘Sweden Democrat’ (Sverigedemokraterna) party, which is not part of the ruling coalition, but is exerting influence on it from the outside.

It is due to its pressure that the government recently passed a scheme to ‘encourage’ immigrants to return to their original countries, with generous cash incentives, to be implemented by local municipalities. A few days ago, however, one of those municipalities in the north of the country, Jokkmokk (it’s a Sami word), refused to go along with this, on the grounds that it valued and welcomed its foreign incomers. (See https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/municipalities-take-stand-against-swedish-government-repatriation-plan.) Since then several other municipalities have followed Jokkmokk’s example – the last I heard it was around forty.

Bully for them, I say; and a good reason for me to stay here in Sweden. (Even if they offered me money to return to the UK.)