On the boat crossings, I read recently that fewer migrants are entering southern Europe and that the UK’s just been seeing a proportional reduction. So the government has had no hand whatever in the decrease over recent months. And now there seems to have been an uptick. So Labour’s record so far is one of absolute futility.
As I’ve said several times previously on these threads, I don’t believe any government can stop immigration unless we have a third-country processing agreement (as many in the EU are now pursuing). So I blame Labour to the extent that they cancelled Rwanda.
All in all, I fear that we’re in for a lot more bullshit under Burnham than even Starmer went in for.
(I’ve also said before, and will again, that this issue bothers me less than it does others. But I do recognise that there are people more directly affected by it than I am.)
Elsewhere, Streeting’s posturing and rowing back is sad to see in its own way - he’s been broken by events - but it does look to me like an early sign of turbulence under the surface of Burnham’s cabinet. Too many people bending the knee to Burnham and too few baubles to keep them all happy. I expect some negative briefings from disappointed supporters as well as embittered ex-ministers.