DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Kemi Badenoch’s promising imaginative and prescient on migration

Immigration is understandably a top concern for legions of British voters.

For three decades, our political elite has allowed mass migration on a historic scale, changing forever the social and cultural landscape of this country, without ever seeking the public’s permission.

Such a vast influx – the population has risen by nine million since 2000 – has put immense strain on public services, law and order, and social cohesion.

Of all the issues that led to the Tories’ downfall at the election, failure to control our borders was perhaps the most salient.

So how refreshing that Kemi Badenoch seems determined to toughen up the party’s stance on bringing numbers down.

Net migration must fall, said the new Tory leader in a barnstorming speech. There would be ‘zero tolerance’ for foreign criminals remaining in the UK. And a Rwanda-style deterrent was necessary.

Those who do come here would be expected to integrate and adopt British values, rather than expect the country to change to suit them.

She will also review Britain’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act, which have been exploited by illegal immigrants to stay here.

Of all the issues that led to the Tories ’ downfall at the election, failure to control our borders was perhaps the most salient. So how refreshing that Kemi Badenoch seems determined to toughen up the party’s stance on bringing numbers down

Migrants attempting to cross the English Channel. Official figures today will show net migration falling from dizzying heights. But this is because of tighter visa rules belatedly introduced by the last Tory government

While Mrs Badenoch’s tough approach will be seen as an attempt to defang Reform, she is also taking the fight to Labour.

Official figures today will show net migration falling from dizzying heights. But this is because of tighter visa rules belatedly introduced by the last Tory government.

Sir Keir Starmer will take the credit, naturally. But the PM has made only a grudging pledge to ‘reduce net migration’. He’d prefer not to.

Mrs Badenoch is making all the right noises, but it’s a very long road back for the Tories on this vital issue. They have broken so many promises before. They mustn’t do so again.

Reality of Net Zero

Sir Keir in Baku for COP29. So the truth is finally out! Earlier this month, Sir Keir insisted Britain could hit its onerous Net Zero targets without the Government ordering people how to behave. Like so many of his pronouncements, it’s turned out to be a fib

So the truth is finally out! Earlier this month, Sir Keir insisted Britain could hit its onerous Net Zero targets without the Government ordering people how to behave.

Like so many of his pronouncements, it’s turned out to be a fib. His own climate tsar yesterday warned we will have to change our habits. Not just by turning the heating down a degree on a night, but by eating less meat, having fewer foreign holidays and swapping the car for public transport.

Who exactly voted for this? We are already witnessing how the Government’s green obsession is sabotaging the country’s motor industry and destroying jobs.

Ministers will make Net Zero a success only if they take the country with them. Instead, livelihoods are being sacrificed and lives made miserable on the altar of eco-radicalism.

A threat to security

Labour’s decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, an increasingly close ally of China, was an act of profound diplomatic and strategic stupidity.

Labour’s decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, an increasingly close ally of China, was an act of profound diplomatic and strategic stupidity

True, the crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia will remain open, but our security would be weakened if and when Beijing stations troops on the next reef.

There are, however, promising signs this shabby deal is collapsing. Donald Trump, the incoming US president, and Mauritius’s new prime minister – both elected since it was announced last month – oppose it.

This would make Britain infinitely safer. But it highlights Sir Keir’s poor political judgment. Why rush to sew up such a controversial deal knowing he might soon be dealing with two different leaders entirely?

It’s because he would rather appease anti-colonialists than protect our interests.