Every couple of days, ministers test out new lines to see how they land. Part of the difficulty is that Farage has been around for so long that he has already weathered most of the attacks that might be deployed against him.
Thus far, Reform has been able to trade effectively on the basis that it doesn’t necessarily matter if every detail of their ideas is worked out, nor if there are practical and technical questions about how they might put their agenda into practice, because – the argument goes – it can’t be any worse than this lot, can it?
The answer for the Government is to lean into its own strengths. While a start-up opposition party might be held to lower standards of policy detail, a government has the huge advantage of actually being in charge and thereby being able to do things, rather than just talk.
Aside from the ongoing struggle to stop the boats and quell illegal immigration, the Government knows that it must address public concern about the level of legal migration to this country, in the aftermath of the so-called “Boriswave”.
It was a headline-grabbing plan, which, true to Farage’s customary style, was intended to demonstrate that he is the real deal when it comes to controlling immigration – by going further than any other party.
Fast forward to the next general election. If Reform retain their poll lead then this policy will be an imminent possibility. Every business will begin to audit how many of their employees will find their residency put in doubt. Almost every household will have neighbours, friends, or family members who are worried about the security of their future here.
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Glimmers of opportunity for the Government are sparse nowadays, so this sticks out as a rare chance. It’s unfortunate, then, that the Prime Minister made a blunder of his own this weekend when he branded Reform’s policy “racist”.
A more practical approach for Labour’s fightback came in the Home Secretary’s speech on Monday, in which she announced concrete steps intended to draw the sting from Farage’s words. ILR will now take 10 years to achieve, instead of five. Applicants must learn English to a demonstrably high standard, volunteer in the community, and work, with their economic contribution tracked by national insurance contributions. They will not be allowed to claim benefits, and getting a criminal record will exclude them from the right to gain ILR.
Mahmood herself presented her agenda as a sort of Clause IV moment – telling the conference in Liverpool that “you won’t always like what I do”.
Back in the outside world, most people will see such fairness as simple common sense. Which is why Mahmood is right to challenge her party to overcome its discomfort and get with the real world.
In cynical times, after many years of broken promises on border control, net migration, social integration and more, achieving that with a disillusioned electorate that will be her biggest challenge of all. If she fails, Nigel Farage will be waiting in the wings, ready to pounce.
Mark Wallace is chief executive of Total Politics Group
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