How should Rishi Sunak govern? Unfortunately for the Prime Minister, his MPs have plenty of views on the matter at the moment – and many are keen to air them publicly. In the face of disappointing local election results, a couple of hundred members of the pro-Boris vehicle the Conservative Democratic Organisation gathered in Bournemouth over the weekend (James Heale writes about the event here) where its members reminisced about the Johnson days and critiqued Sunak. Tonight Sunak is due to host a coronation garden party for all MPs, but ahead of that charm offensive a number of ministers and MPs are heading to the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster for the National Conservatism conference.
Ministers are bracing for a record increase in net migration figures this month which could come close to one million
The event is a project of the Edmund Burke Foundation, a public affairs institute with the stated aim of ‘strengthening the principles of national conservatism in Western and other democratic countries’. For Sunak, what it means in the immediate term is various colleagues waxing lyrical on the future of conservatism. Promoted highlights over the three day event include Lord Frost (who has confirmed he is on the Conservative party’s candidates list for the next election) on the need for growth, Danny Kruger on the need to retain votes won in the red wall, rising 2019 star Miriam Cates who has previously spoken of the importance of family values, as well as a speech from Tory party deputy chairman Lee Anderson.
First up, however, is Suella Braverman. The Home Secretary is to give a speech to the conference today reiterating the need to reduce immigration before the next election and arguing that the UK must shake-off its dependence on foreign labour. This means training Britons to take on jobs in the relevant sectors such as the meat industry, farming and truck driving. Given that the Tory manifesto stated that the government would get ‘overall numbers down’ this isn’t such a controversial statement – it is a recommitment to the manifesto.
However, Braverman’s speech is still managing to ruffle feathers. Ministers are bracing for a record increase in net migration figures this month which could come close to one million – it was just over half a million last year. It means Braverman’s speech is in part an attempt to get ahead of the story. It can also be read as an attempt to influence the debate happening in government behind closed doors.
Some cabinet colleagues have argued for an easing of visa rules to boost economic growth. Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, has clashed with the Home Office previously on proposals to crack down on visas in relation to overseas students. These tensions are not new – when Liz Truss was prime minister, she also had disagreements with Braverman on the same issue.
The OBR report that came alongside Jeremy Hunt’s Budget showed that net migration plays a huge role already. As Michael Simmons reported at the time, it’s expected to settle at 40,000 a year higher than in November and this will contribute 0.5 per cent to GDP by 2027. That means some 1.6 million migrants will settle in the UK over the next five years. Braverman’s speech today is a counter to those in government who see an increased reliance on cheap overseas labour as inevitable.
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