The public is losing patience on immigration

More than 14,000 migrants have reached the UK this year via the Channel, up from 8,400 for the whole of 2020. People smuggling is a criminal enterprise that endangers lives and makes a mockery of UK borders. In her frustration, the Home Secretary has threatened to pull the plug on a £54 million deal to help France combat migrants and has secured legal advice for Border Force to turn back boats. The conditions under which the latter could be deployed are thought to be narrow: the vessels are precarious and safety is paramount.

Those who desire stricter controls point to the success of Australia, which processes people offshore, reducing the chances that anyone denied entry will get in. Elsewhere, Denmark has, under social democratic leadership, moved towards compelling some migrants to work for benefits, as well as sending those applying for asylum to a country outside Europe for processing. The goal of the toughest systems is to reduce the opportunity for people even to enter and thus, lawfully or otherwise, remain in the country of their choice. In theory, this reduces economic migration, and discourages people from embarking on perilous routes.

A complicating factor for the UK is France: our partner has little incentive to stop migrants leaving, let alone to welcome them back if returned. Priti Patel is losing patience; so are many Britons. Immigration is rising among the list of voters’ chief concerns and the polls indicate that people do not believe it is being handled effectively. If the Government does not act, this will become one more core conservative issue upon which it is judged to have lost its way.