Complex problems often require international cooperation, and cooperation is more likely to be effective within a framework of mutually respected laws.
The issue of immigration is now fully back at the centre of our national life and will exert a profound influence on the outcome of the rapidly approaching general election next year.
The rage, frustration and contempt of its terms are a foretaste of what’s to come if the Conservatives lose the next election.
If Sunak doesn’t commit the Conservatives to leaving, and then somehow wins the next election, the next Leader of the Opposition will take up the cause.
Labour are happy to hammer the Government for it’s lack of progress, but lack any convincing alternative plan to make the system effective and bring numbers down.
Why should a previous government’s commitment to the international community trump (in practice if not in legal theory) a later government’s commitments to the British people?
They clearly believe that judges are increasingly taking upon themselves the role of MPs – and are willing to leave the Convention in consequence.
The case hinges on Rwanda’s capacity to deliver the necessary safeguards, not on any claim that the entire policy is a breach of international law.
He could look again at short sentences. I wanted to scrap them – they are counter-productive in reducing reoffending and cause a great deal of disruption to prisons.
“There is an extensive body of research that demonstrates the damaging effects on social trust and cohesion from uncontrolled migration.”
No, his does not mean that the UK has become “ungovernable” or that it will be “impossible for Ministers to do their job” or that his departure is a victory for “the Remainer blob” or evidence that the public sector is full of “snowflakes”.
They have been introduced in response to backbench pressure – with the Government seeming to accept the argument that the Bill as introduced was vulnerable to litigation. Parliament should accept them, but should be aware that some risks remain.
For whatever reason, he may be morphing into the politician I hoped he would become – the moderate man whose patience is exhausted.
Downing Street seems to think that one day’s bad publicity over clearing the backlog is a price worth paying for sorting the small boats problem. It needs to do so now more than ever.
The Government needs as broad a coalition of voices as possible to tackle the fissure opening up in our constitution and public life.