Labour has no benchmark figure for the success of its much-vaunted ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal with France. Yvette Cooper said the pilot should be in operation by the end of the month…
In response to a written parliamentary question asking whether a minimum number of returns would determine if the pilot had been successful, Home Office Minister Angela Eagle refused to answer, saying instead: “We will continuously monitor and evaluate the pilot as it progresses.” Don’t hold your breath…
This week Yvette Cooper couldn’t even guarantee that the first small boat migrant would be returned this month, despite the deal being announced more than four weeks ago. Labour is hoping to send back just 50 a week but will not admit that in public. The scheme’s success depends on the ratio of migrants admitted to those returned. The French have been negotiating the figure down…
Former Treasury minister and adviser to Burnham in the Makerfield campaign Lord Jim O’Neill, who has turned down a role in his government, said Burnham’s first statement Commons was:
“The last thing investors wanted to hear… gilt yields have risen by a 0.25% in one day, which is a lot. We’ve not had that since Liz Truss days… If your country is under the focus of ‘can they come up with a sensible fiscal strategy’ on a day when the markets think ‘well no, you’re not showing any sign of it’ you’re going to have a tough day…if it stays like this your mortgage rate is going up.”