We mustn't ignore what we're put in government to do

“If the perception is that very expensive electric cars, cow flatulence and £20,000 heat pumps are our main priority, Houston we have a problem

- Marco Longhi

ONE of the defining features of both the Brexit Referendum and of the 2019 general election was the clarity of message. Put simply, it was akin to “Vote Leave because… we’ll take back control of our borders and laws.”

And, after an appalling period of democracy-trashing and selfinflicted political turmoil, we finally had an election with “Vote Conservative because we’ll Get Brexit Done…” as the slogan.

Ergo, vote Conservative to take back control of our borders. And why was taking back control of our borders important? Two words: Illegal immigration. For this reason, Brexit in the Red Wall was primarily about border control as the solution to the crossings.

So, as a “Red Wall” MP candidate, I was over the moon when Boris Johnson campaigned on “getting Brexit done to take back control of our borders etc”. The election results validated the campaign. But No 10 now seems to be choosing not to prioritise the one thing that delivered the Red Wall and an 80-seat majority.

It was illegal immigration that (largely) fuelled Ukip. It was illegal immigration that (largely) drew voters to the Brexit Party; the MEP elections led to the demise of former PM Theresa May.