HOW BUREAUCRATS THINK:

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has suffered a major setback in her legal battle with American ‘shock jock’ Michael Savage after her officials were accused of banning him from the country on racial grounds.

Emails written by Home Office officials privately acknowledged the ban on Mr Savage would provide ‘balance’ to a list dominated by Muslims – and linked the decision to Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

The officials admitted their action could look ‘duplicitous’ and cited his ‘homophobia’ as a reason the move would receive public support.

So to avoid looking “racist” and suffering bad PR, they chose to be “duplicitous” and hope that gay rights would provide a smokescreen. So how’s that avoiding-the-bad-PR thing working out for you, guys? . . .