English barber shops have a reputation that right wingers would like to make a feature of the UK general election on July 4.
In a country where the cost of living has shattered the governing Conservative party’s claims to competence, male hairdressing is cheap and has resisted integration with the digital economy. In other words, “cash only” is the key to its low-cost model.
But the anti-immigrant Reform UK party has questioned if these barbers are the gatekeepers of illegal migration. It asks if they are laundering dirty cash alongside the legitimate takings and exploiting low-skilled men who have entered the country from the Middle East and the Balkans.
It is a vignette that is telling about the opening phase of the election. A pivot to migration is overdue from a Conservative party that has so far rolled out its policies to woo older voters.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces his first TV debate head-to-head against Labour party leader Keir Starmer on Tuesday, and he can be expected to press his “tough on migration” dividing lines against the frontrunner. This is, in particular, the policy of shipping people to Rwanda that’s been described as “so tough it’s insane”.
Illegal migration to the UK has been made a category of crime that disbars the guilty from the asylum process. This is a tactic that speeds up deportation for arrivals, as well as a grievous blow against the international law on refugees’ right to a safe haven.
Mr Sunak is troubled politically by the tens of thousands arriving in the UK, particularly the symbolic sight of scores packed on flimsy dinghies being rescued and brought into the harbour of Dover on the English Channel every day.
Everything about those scenes undermines the Conservative vision of an exceptional island that has held its national frontiers at Dover for more than a millennium.
Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, claims to have seized on the Dover issue early and his YouTube commentaries against the backdrop of the arriving boats did stir the government into action.
That he is now taking on the barbers is a pointer to what’s next on the fraught issue. Hence Mr Sunak’s prime card in the election is the extraordinary effort the UK has mounted to send hundreds of these people to central Africa, where their claims will reportedly be processed for a safe haven status there.
Mr Starmer’s refusal to engage with the drastic nature of the Rwanda option is something that the Conservatives hope to exploit.
A former prosecutor, Mr Starmer has highlighted the corruption behind the migration flows and wants to go after the gang masters. It is a dry argument that may not resonate as much with large sections of the electorate. On the other hand, the polls have barely shifted, so Mr Starmer can sit tight.
The rise of the far right across Europe, armed with an agenda to clamp down on migration, is the main issue in the EU Parliament election in the coming week.
The remigration policy of the Alternative for Germany party is underpinning its bid for 20 MEPs in what would be a historic breakthrough. The Brothers of Italy, the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has success pinned on its plans to control the numbers of arrivals into the Mediterranean peninsula by deportations to Albania. Marine Le Pen is the front-runner in France, where she is vowing to salve anti-migration policies struck down by the country’s highest court.
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Conservative leader Rishi Sunak speaks at party campaign event at the National Army Museum in London on Wednesday, July 3. AP Photo -
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addresses supporters during a visit to the West Regwm Farm events venue in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, Wales, on the final day of election campaigning. PA -
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey drives a tractor during a visit to Owl Lodge in Lacock, Wiltshire. PA -
Satirical political character Count Binface in London before challenging Conservative leader RishiSunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton. Reuters -
Boris Johnson, former UK prime minister, campaigns for the Conservatives in London. Bloomberg -
Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right Reform UK Party, with heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora during a campaign visit to Clacton-on-Sea in eastern England. Reuters -
Mr Sunak holds a speech during his visit to Well Healthcare Supplies as he campaigns in Stoke. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer laughs as he speaks to supporters near Milton Keynes. AP -
Mr Davey bungee jumps during a visit to Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex. AP -
Mr Sunak bowls during his visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club. AFP -
Mr Starmer addresses an audience of Labour Party members and supporters during a rally at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London. AP -
Mr Davey rides a towable inflatable during a visit to Lakeside Ski & Wake, in the Cotswolds. Reuters -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. AFP -
Mr Starmer during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingsbury, London. PA -
Mr Davey participates in a Zumba class with supporters in Wokingham. Reuters -
Mr Starmer speaking during a visit to Northampton Town Football Club at Sixfields Stadium. PA -
Mr Sunak delivers a speech in central London. AFP -
Mr Davey jet-washes an ambulance in London. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer rests his hand on the shoulder of Idris Elba as they meet families of knife crime victims, in west London. PA -
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Mr Davey plays a game of Frisbee on a visit to a farm in Hampshire. AP -
Mr Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visit a supermarket in Swindon. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks to journalists on the campaign bus following the launch of the Welsh Conservatives General Election manifesto near Rhyl. Reuters -
Mr Davey taking part in wheelbarrow racing at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town football club in Somerset. PA -
Mr Farage speaks to the press in Clacton-on-Sea. Bloomberg -
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour party's 2024 general election manifesto in Manchester. AP -
Mr Sunak answers questions from the audience in Grimsby. Getty Images -
Mr Davey toasts a marshmallow as he visits Willow Forest School in Surrey. EPA -
Mr Farage attends the launch of the Reform UK manifesto in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Reuters -
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launches Scottish Labour’s battle bus campaign on June 17 in South Queensferry, Scotland. Getty Images -
Britain's Labour Party politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting speaks to a television crew outside the BBC in London. AFP -
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, Sunday, with Laura Kuenssberg. BBC -
Mr Sunak meets pupils in a maths class during a visit to the John Whitgift Academy, in Grimsby. AP -
Mr Starmer during a visit to Grimsby Institute, a technical training college in Grimsby. PA -
Mr Davey during a general election campaign visit to the Aqua Jungle Spot in Stratford-upon-Avon. Bloomberg -
Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty take centre stage at the Conservative Party's general election manifesto launch in Towcester. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer passes a toothbrush to a child during his visits to the Whale Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough. AP -
Mr Davey meets Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat candidate for Torbay and his guide dog Jennie at Torquay Harbour. Getty Images -
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts after something is thrown towards him on the campaign bus in Cawthorne, Barnsley. AP -
Mr Sunak attends a neighbourhood watch meeting in Horsham, West Sussex. PA -
Mr Starmer helps volunteers pot plants during a visit to Harlesden Town Garden in north-west London. PA -
Mr Davey on the 'Rush' ride during a Liberal Democrats general election campaign event at Thorpe Park. Reuters -
Mr Sunak, during a visit to Imagination Childcare, in Swindon, Wiltshire, while on the election campaign trail. PA -
Mr Starmer visits Brent Cross town's visitor pavilion for a housing launch in London. Getty Images -
Mr Davey grills burgers in a garden, during campaigning in Wiltshire. PA -
Mr Sunak during a visit to Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames, as a boat carrying Liberal Democrat supporters passes behind him. Reuters -
Mr Starmer meets pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and the cost of living, in a cafe in Bolton. PA -
Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer lock horns the first televised general election debate of the campaign, at MediaCity in Salford. PA -
Mr Davey plays Jenga using symbolic 'blue wall' blocks in Stockport. EPA -
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn poses outside Islington Town Hall, north London, after handing in his nomination papers for the general election, taking place on July 4. PA -
Mr Farage has a milkshake hurled at him during a campaign event in Clacton-on-Sea. EPA -
Mr Sunak launches the Conservative Party's campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse in north-east England. PA -
Labour launch their election campaign bus, with Mr Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, in Uxbridge. Getty Images -
Mr Davey holds a balloon with a figure that represents the amount of votes the Liberal Democrat party lost by in Wimbledon. PA -
Mr Sunak feeds lambs as he visits Rowlinson's Farm during a Conservative general election campaign event in Gawsworth. Reuters -
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Starmer, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband and local candidate Martin McCluskey in Greenock. PA -
Mr Sunak holds a question and answer session during a visit to Niftylift in Milton Keynes. EPA -
Mr Starmer serves ice cream to day trippers on Barry seafront in South Wales. PA -
Mr Davey takes part in a baking lesson with pupils from High Beeches Primary School during a half-term holiday camp in Hertfordshire. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks with a cafe worker as he picks up breakfast for the media at a cafe in Cornwall. PA -
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of Labour's six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny. PA -
Mr Davey and Anna Sabine, parliamentary candidate for Frome and East Somerset, ride the Ultimate Slip 'n' Slide at Eastcote Farm in Beckington. Bloomberg -
Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney speaks during a visit to The Dower House Cafe in Edinburgh. AP -
Rishi Sunak examines Jackal armoured vehicles during his visit to defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Exeter. PA -
Keir Starmer with a baby at Worcester City Football Club. PA -
Ed Davey rides a bike during a visit to Knighton, Wales. PA -
Nigel Farage at the cliffs in Dover after speaking at a Reform UK event. Getty Images -
Akshata Murty, wife of Mr Sunak, meets with residents during a visit to a Royal British Legion care home in Ripon. Getty Images -
Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during a visit to Rolls Royce’s educational training complex in Derby. PA -
Ed Davey falls into the water while paddle boarding on Lake Windermere. PA -
Rishi Sunak campaigning in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. EPA -
Mr Starmer addresses party members and media in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex. Getty Images -
Mr Davey launches his party's general election campaign battle bus in Cambridge. PA -
Mr Sunak on the ball during a visit to Chesham United Football Club. PA -
Mr Starmer speaks to party supporters after making his first keynote speech of the campaign in Lancing. PA -
Mr Davey join supporters for a dog walk near Winchester. PA -
Mr Sunak visits a maritime technology centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as he campaigns for the general election on July 4. Reuters -
Mr Starmer and his Scottish counterpart, Anas Sarwar, greet supporters at the launch of the Scottish Labour general election campaign at Caledonia House in Glasgow. Getty Images -
Mr Davey, right, eats ice cream with his party's local candidate, Josh Babarinde, on the promenade in Eastbourne. PA -
Mr Sunak arrives at Inverness Airport, in Scotland, on the general election campaign trail. PA -
Mr Starmer during a visit to Gillingham Football Club in Kent. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks with members of staff at the Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg in north-east Scotland. AFP -
Mr Davey during a visit to the town centre in Cheltenham. PA -
Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, attends an election campaign launch in London. AP -
Mr Sunak holds a Q&A with staff of a West Transport distribution centre in Ilkeston in the East Midlands. AP -
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and Mr Starmer arrive at Gillingham FC. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak takes questions from workers at West Transport. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer holds a piece of campaign branding at Gillingham. PA -
Mr Sunak poses for a selfie in Ilkeston. AFP
The consequences for French President Emmanuel Macron of coming second or third in the elections are potentially far reaching on the European stage. There is an eclipse of fellow liberal leaders, such as the Netherlands’ departing Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, and potentially Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. He faces a Flemish nationalist surge in national elections on June 9.
Even if the results of the election are that shrunken centrists come together to continue governing Europe through grand coalitions, there is a clear message coming from the voters. And even if the result in the UK is a landslide for Mr Starmer’s Labour, it has a challenge afterwards to take the country with it, particularly in areas where its own policy areas have been ill defined. Migration is one of those.
Bad ideas fired up in the heat of election campaigns have a habit of surviving despite being on the losing side. Migration toughness is one such area, with the potential to leach into other areas.
The Conservatives are now extending their crackdown to students, many of whom also happen to be migrants.
The rise of international student numbers in the UK over the past decade is an exports success story. Many courses are offered by educational institutions that have sprung up like businesses to meet this demand. Go into these universities or colleges, and the atmosphere is not much different to any other office block.
In campaign mode, the Conservatives have decided that these facilities are offering “Mickey Mouse” degrees. The party has promised to reallocate resources to UK-focused apprenticeships or learning-on-the-job qualifications.
Such a shift would take a chunk out of the annual net migration figures, as it looks like a large portion of the 700,000 foreign students could be at the risk of being made to leave the country immediately after graduation. Collateral damage would be the destruction of a successful sector of the UK economy that attracts worldwide talent.
These policies are another sign that the Conservatives deserve a period of rebirth on the opposition benches. For its part, Labour should consign them to history if it wins.
Of course, who is to say that Mr Starmer won’t use some remodelled versions of the Conservative ideas to prove that he is governing in a one-nation big tent? It would, however, be a temptation that should be well avoided.
