comment London is a city as ancient as the hills. More recently some Britons and expatriates have fled its grey and damp climes in a bid to avoid taxes that have hit 50 percent at the top level. These include bankers and financiers, and more respected names such as Mick Jagger and Formula One race driver Lewis Hamilton.

But there are many who stay. Amongst them are those men and women who feel the nations of their birth do not offer them the opportunity and freedom that they seek. And there are many. This list of countries cuts a wide swathe across the globe from Russia to Poland, South Africa and Malaysia.

Anwar Ibrahim came to London and in two evenings he addressed over a thousand of his countrymen. That is nothing like the tens of thousands who attend opposition ceramahs back in Malaysia but at home the rain is never as dismal as it is in London at night as winter takes its time to fade...