Keir Starmer is ashamed of his party

Questions from backbenchers dominated PMQs. Sir Edward Leigh is keen to end unfettered immigration and he announced a way to stop the boats that might actually stop the boats. ‘Detain all those who land illegally on our shores and offshore them immediately,’ he said. His specific goal was to prevent children from being shoved onto leaky inflatables crewed by emaciated refugees who paddle across channel at the dead of night. ‘End this callous trade,’ he said, citing the risks to innocent kids. No one could quibble with that. The PM agreed. 

‘He’s right,’ said Rishi. He then announced a different stop the boats policy that will never stop the boats. He turned Sir Edward’s central idea – automatic deportation – into a softer policy of free hotels, ping-pong in the lobby and writing out application forms in the hope of gaining permanent residency.