Will the Tories really kick out low-paid migrants?

We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this. It is hard when analysing the new Conservative party immigration policy not to be put in mind of this ancient political joke.

Despite having led us all not to expect firm policy announcements for a couple of years, Kemi Badenoch’s party has just nailed its colours to the mast of a migration policy idea that has recently been doing the rounds in right-wing think tank circles: toughening-up the eligibility criteria for granting foreign nationals indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK.

The idea, promoted by the impressive young Adam Smith Institute thinker Sam Bidwell – who wrote a Spectator cover piece last week on migration – began gaining currency in December. Bidwell pointed out that by extending the eligibility period for granting ILR, the enormous so-called “Boriswave” of immigration could in theory be much better controlled.