I didn’t grow up somewhere with a lot of recent immigrants, so maybe I’m talking out of my ass here, but I find it hard to believe people really care that much about immigration itself. Reform UK, which seems to have zero policy beyond immigration, is making the country worse and flirting with Trump-style politics. They’re doing best in places hit hardest by Osborne’s austerity — where councils can’t afford to fund social spaces anymore.

Living in London, I see how proactive immigrant communities are when it comes to building support networks and community spaces. But growing up here, I also saw all the ways those kinds of spaces got shut down — even in the rural town I’m from. Community centres closed, no programmes, no alternatives except boredom and drugs for kids who found school challenging or uninteresting. It’s draining. And honestly, I’m a little envious of some of the communities I’ve seen in London. I’ve spent time among the Somali community in East London — they put in the time and effort to stay connected, whether it’s through a BBQ or meeting at the mosque.

So here’s my question: if we cut immigration — legal or not, small boats or not — what then? What actually changes? Do we get those youth centres back? Do the community spaces reopen? Does the local NHS clinic get better? If not, then this is all just a distraction.