Thursday, November 28, 2024 Immigration: blame Boris Johnson He promised in his 2019 manifesto to "get Brexit done, and then introduce a firmer and fairer Australian-style points-based immigration system", and said: "Overall numbers will come down."   But he was never very interested in either the subject of immigration or the policy detail, and had been liberal on immigration as London mayor.    So when Brexit gave the UK government control over immigration policy, he relaxed the rules, and the Office for National Statistics estimates today that net immigration tripled from 300,000 a year to 900,000.    Kemi Badenoch tried to pre-empt the figures by holding a news conference yesterday, admitting that the previous government (of which she was a member) "did not deliver".  Keir Starmer tried to attack the Tories from the right in his news conference today, at which he announced a deal to return migrants to Iraq.  Written by John Rentoul Quiz question What word that literally means "like a dog" now means a person who distrusts people? 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By registering, you'll also gain access to a range of exclusive benefits, including: Limited access to Premium articles Access to The Independent app Access to more than 20 newsletters Commenting on independent.co.uk Unlock these benefits by completing your registration today.  COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION NOW COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION NOW Daily briefing David Cameron becomes the first former prime minister to back assisted dying bill Lord Cameron had previously opposed the idea Former Tory minister Andrea Jenkyns defects to Nigel Farage's Reform UK She will run as the party's candidate for mayor of Lincolnshire Brexit is not working, Kemi Badenoch suggests The Tory leader said the previous government 'did not deliver' after the country voted to end free movement What else you need to know today Nigel Farage, in a busy news conference, announced that Reform UK had 100,000 members, and that James McMurdock, the MP who was jailed for kicking his girlfriend 18 years ago, deserves 'Christian forgiveness' Seventeen Conservative MPs of the new intake have been appointed parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) to shadow ministers – the list is here According to The Sun, Richard Moore, the head of MI6, is now the favourite to be Britain's ambassador to Washington, threatening a second blow to the pride of Peter Mandelson, who came fourth in the election of Oxford university chancellor The Independent View The ceasefire in Lebanon shows diplomacy can work – but it is premature to hope for Gaza Politics explained Why is Keir Starmer so obdurate in refusing a European youth mobility scheme? Is the prime minister adopting a negotiating position, or is he really fearful of being painted as someone who wants to reverse Brexit...?   Read more MOST COMMENTED Keir Starmer faces 'total humiliation' with Chagos deal on brink of collapse Tomorrow inside the Westminster bubble The assisted dying bill will be put to a vote in the Commons  It is a rare sitting Friday tomorrow in the House of Commons, one of the days in the calendar set aside for private members' bills. Twelve of them are listed for debate, but the one that matters is the first, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, sponsored by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley.    About 175 MPs have told the speaker's office that they want to speak, but not all of them are going to be called in the five hours set aside for the debate, and the speaker does not usually put a time limit on speeches on private members' bills.    The vote is expected at about 2.30pm; there may be more than one, because some of the bill's opponents have tabled a "reasoned amendment" which would be taken before the main vote. The amendment sets out reasons (hence the name) for rejecting the bill, but in both votes MPs will be deciding either to reject the bill or to allow it to go ahead to its next stage, of line-by-line consideration.    A special edition of the View from Westminster newsletter will be with you tomorrow at 6pm.  QUOTATION OF THE DAY "Brexit was used for that purpose – to turn Britain into a one-nation experiment in open borders"   Keir Starmer Quiz answer: Cynic The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. 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