Things Can Only Get 19

I don’t know if you’ve seen a couple of videos that are doing the rounds. In one, James Acaster talks to a man in a deserted Kettering town centre. The guy explains that our country is full. Too full. And the people who are making it full are from abroad. It’s sadfunny.

In another a Reform candidate explains how he became convinced of the need to step up when he travelled through an airport and saw how many people were coming in. He holds his conviction as the straight-faced questioner suggests that this is the sort of thing that happens at airports.

Many of you will find this amusing but the views are typical of those held by the far right. A very thin basis in fact is fanned into flames by racism and stupidity. In such an environment it is almost impossible to have a sensible conversation about immigration.

But what would be a sensible population for the UK? How should it be made up? Do we want to import people to do the jobs we don’t want to do? (No.) Or are we happy to pay more for cleaners, carers and fruit pickers? (Again, no.) Impasse.