Kemi Badenoch is leading her party in the right direction on migration

Since becoming Conservative leader in November, Kemi Badenoch has taken a restrained approach to saying what she’d do if she wins the next election. Given the slapdash ‘policy by press release’ approach of recent Conservative governments, it’s easy to see why Badenoch has been keen to avoid making careless policy announcements. But four years of silence won’t convince frustrated voters to turn back to the Tories. Announcing policy as Leader of the Opposition is a bit like planning to open a restaurant: you don’t need to reveal the whole menu, but you do need to let people know what cuisine you’ll be serving.

With today’s announcement on migration policy, Badenoch is finally breaking her silence – and taking a step in the right direction on the issue that most troubles voters: immigration. 

Promising to ensure that “living [in Britain] has to mean something”, Badenoch has pledged to double the eligibility period for long-term settlement from five years to ten, prevent criminals and benefit claimants from settling here, and bar illegal migrants from ever seeking permanent residency.