Sir Keir Starmer must address immigration if he wishes to turn around his dwindling approval rating
Flagging poll
THE Prime Minister could be forgiven for wondering what happened to the “honeymoon period” that new leaders are supposed to get.
He is not yet 50 days into the job and already his personal approval rating has plummeted from net positive to a net negative.
His Government’s handling of the riots — a baptism of fire — has rightly been applauded but just as quickly been forgotten. Who’d be a politician?
The trouble is that the people rating the PM do not believe one of the key issues underlying the violent disorder — namely immigration — is being addressed, and the large numbers of illegal migrants still arriving daily on our shores does not help.
Since he took office, more than 5,000 have landed in Britain — with 492 on Saturday alone.
Still we have heard no clear plan from Labour on how they intend to stop that.
We are told nearly 100 staff have already moved into the new Border Security Command HQ that is central to the Government’s plans to crack down on people-smuggling gangs, and that the appointment of their boss is imminent.
They will need to hit the ground running if Starmer wishes to turn around his dwindling approval rating.
Ditch the blades
THERE is no sensible or legitimate reason for young people to have so-called zombie knives or machetes.
To do so only invites the ruination of their own lives as well as the potential ending of someone else’s.
The prohibition of these dangerous weapons next month — and the banning of “ninja swords” to follow — cannot come soon enough.
So it is vital that those misguided youths who possess them take advantage of the new amnesty and hand them in before they risk jail.
It is just as important that those who should care for these youngsters make sure that it happens, and that those who supply these lethal blades feel the full force of the law.
Too many young lives have already been lost during this epidemic of knife crime.
House of whinger
WHEN will Prince Harry get the message that he gave up the automatic right to round-the-clock protection in the UK when he chose to stop being a working royal?
Continuing his costly legal battle and giving his father, the King, a hard time when His Majesty has no control over the matter is pointless.
If he is so concerned about his and Meghan’s security, why go on a faux-royal tour of Colombia requiring the protection of 3,000 police and military officers and the shutting of entire towns?