Everyone in SW1, it seems, has an opinion on this controversial scheme. Most people hate it. The general assumption is that this is a Tory stunt clothed as a government policy.
The question is, though, has the van campaign been a successful policy pilot from a presentational point of view? Here are some thoughts:
1). The right-wing press. The Mail is utterly contemptuous. A leading column claims that only one illegal immigrant has stepped forward. The leader goes on to say that voters punish cheap stunts; what people want is action. And if that wasn’t enough, the paper’s front page (below) is uncompromising.
All of this will have gone down badly in the Home Office, which has a good story to tell about reducing net migration.
2). Disaffected voters. If the aim was to embarrass Nigel Farage, then it has failed miserably.
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