Strange tactics by Sir Keir at PMQs. He raised the issue of broken promises on immigration, which gave Rishi Sunak a chance to sound tougher than Labour.
‘How many work visas were issued to foreign nationals last year?’ asked Sir Keir. Rishi dodged the question and blamed the unexpectedly large influx on the Ukraine war. And he mentioned his personal and very generous decision to welcome refugees into other people’s houses.
Sir Keir supplied the figure Rishi had just ducked: ‘It’s 250,000. He knows the answer. He just doesn’t want to give it.’ Rishi seized his chance to accuse Labour of plotting to scrap our borders altogether. ‘He believes in an open-door immigration policy,’ he said. Sir Keir then deployed the best gag of the session which linked the upsurge in immigrants to the Home Secretary’s troubles over a speeding offence.
‘Why does [Suella Braverman] have such a problem coping with points-based systems?’ Once he’d delivered this gentle biff on the bruise he went no further and refrained from calling for her resignation.
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