NotKindle.com ( No Worries ) . 100% FREE

years for decisions because the system is overwhelmed, they are not being served well either. A faster system could identify genuine cases sooner. Those people could then begin rebuilding their lives. That is better for them. It is better for Britain. And it is better for the credibility of the asylum system. ## The danger of an uncontrolled system An immigration system that appears uncontrolled creates another problem. It can cause people to become angry with everybody who is foreign. That is unfair. Most immigrants are not involved in organised crime. Most people of any religion or nationality are not responsible for the actions of criminals. But when the public believes that nobody is in control, suspicion can spread. That is precisely why governments need to maintain confidence. A clear and enforceable system protects communities as well as borders. ## Britain does not need to choose a side The argument should therefore not be: **?Do we want compassion or control??** It should be: **?How do we build a system that provides protection to people who genuinely need it while maintaining effective control over immigration??** That is a much better question. And it leads to practical answers. Fast decisions. Fair decisions. Effective border controls. Serious action against smugglers. Realistic returns. International cooperation. Clear information. And transparent figures. None of those things requires Britain to become heartless. ## What the public really wants Perhaps this is what many people have been trying to say all along. They do not necessarily want every immigrant removed. They want to know that there are rules. They want to know that the rules are fair. They want to know that the Government knows who is coming into the country. They want to know that criminals are dealt with. They want to know that genuine refugees are protected. And they want to know that if somebody has no legal right to remain, there is a functioning process for dealing with that. That is not an unreasonable demand. It is what people should expect from a modern democracy. ## The balance Britain can be generous without being uncontrolled. It can be firm without being cruel. It can enforce its borders without abandoning human decency. And it can change its immigration policies without turning against immigrants themselves. That balance is not always easy. But difficult does not mean impossible. The real test is whether Britain is prepared to stop arguing about whether the problem exists and start measuring whether its policies actually work. And that leads us towards the final part of this book. Because after all the arguments, statistics, policies and proposals, we eventually have to ask one simple question: **What would I do if I were responsible for running the country?** # Chapter Eighteen ## If I Were Running the Country After everything we have discussed, it is time to stop asking what other people should do. Let us imagine, for a moment, that the responsibility is mine. I have been elected to run the country. People are demanding answers. The boats are still coming. The asylum backlog is still there. Hotels are still being used. The smugglers are still making money. And the public is losing patience. What would I actually do? I would start with one principle: **Do not make promises you cannot deliver.** I would tell the British public exactly what I intend to do, how long it should take and how I will measure whether it has worked. ## First: Get control of the numbers Within the first few weeks, I would establish a clear picture of the entire system. How many people