Immigration at the heart of government’s plans

History will probably not judge the immigration measures in this morning’s Queen’s speech as the most significant in their impact on people’s lives. But they were prominent in the government’s briefings and in the newspaper headlines and the issue is prominent in many voters’ minds.

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Old Home Office hands say that the bulk of illegal immigration tracking comes down to having the staff and expertise to do the case work. Today’s measures shift the burden of work to others – employers and landlords.

On deportations, the home secretary is going to enshrine in legislation advice to judges to deploy article 8 of the human rights act – the right to family life – only in exceptional circumstances.

But it’s not always the individual potential deportee’s rights that judges are looking at when they decide against deportation, it’s sometimes the rights of family relations who are themselves British citizens that the judges are considering.

Fines on businesses that are employing are already pretty hefty – limitless where there was an intention to deceive. It’ll be interesting to see what detailed recommendations look like for making them heftier still.

Landlords may find it difficult to check immigration documents as the government briefing suggests they’ll be required to do. Labour’s making much of how the government will find it tricky to chase down landlords without a landlords register.

In a week in which the royal family started easing the heir to the throne into a more prominent role or jobshare with the Queen, Prince Charles, making a rare appearance at the state opening of parliament, was also briefly keeper of the Duchess of Cornwall’s handbag as the couple negotiated their carriage back to Buckingham Palace.

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