So soon after taking on the right over the European Union, David Cameron didn’t want to
be seeing negative headlines on another of their hot-button issues. But that’s just what he’s woken up to this morning, thanks to the revelations that the Home Secretary authorised the relaxation
of border checks.
As James said, May’s performance in the House of Commons yesterday left her looking safe for the time being – not least because of Cameron’s support for her, as evidenced by his sitting alongside the Home Secretary during her statement. But immigration is as potent an issue as ever.
Unlike the EU, it’s one that the general public does think is important: immigration ranks third on Ipsos MORI’s latest Issues Index, behind only the economy and unemployment. And up until now, it’s been an issue that serves the Conservative party well: 32 per cent of the public think they would handle it best, against just 15 per cent for Labour.
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