Priti Patel’s refugee pushback policy has been officially withdrawn by the government days before a judicial review of the tactic was due to be heard in the high court. The government’s legal department acknowledged in a letter on Sunday that the plan to try to force people in dinghies back to France has been abandoned after Boris Johnson’s announcement that the Royal Navy would take over operations in the Channel.

We can reasonably assume that there was never any serious intention of deploying pushback tactics. This government operates mainly out of fear of bad press from left wing media outlets. Every couple of months the Tories announce new policy initiatives but nothing ever comes of it. The most effective deterrent thus far is the English weather which has caused a drop off in Channel crossings over the last few days.

Meanwhile, new “analysis” by the so-called Refugee Council (a far left open borders NGO) claims that the Tory plan to send immigration cheats to Rwanda will see only 200 removed. The government disputes this claim but we won’t be surprised if the numbers are not impressive. Despite what the government claims, and its repeated policy announcements, the money is still going into new reception facilities.

On that score we see the real intentions of this government. It is to press ahead with the new facility at Linton on Ouse despite passionate local objections. Local Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake seems to have changed his tune (presumably after seeing his overflowing mailbag), and is now opposing the facility but is set to be overruled unless court action is brought against the government. The government has chosen the site on the basis of its availability rather than its suitability and is set to bring misery to local residents as well as unwelcome attention. Linton on Ouse is already a media circus.

As much as this facility demonstrates the complete failure of Priti Patel to bring illegal immigration under control, it also demonstrates Tory contempt for local democracy. Nobody has anything good to say about this development. Even the the NGOs have said the site is unsuitable.

Such centres have been heavily criticised in the past, with courts ruling the site at Napier Barracks and Pennaly Barracks not fit for purpose, resulting in arson, violence, poor mental health, suicide attempts, COVID outbreaks and anti-social behaviour. It says everything about the impotence of local democracy that it has to be fought through the courts.

The very real fear in Linton is that villagers will be rapidly outnumbered by migrant men with little to do - who will cause trouble. There also is no reason to believe the government will not expand the site further, possibly even adding containerised accommodation to the site, with some suggesting ten thousand migrants warehoused on the former airfield.

UKIP has been to visit the village today and will be keeping a close eye on developments. We will post regular updates. It is our view that it’s only a matter of time before someone’s daughter is raped, beaten and dumped in a ditch. We also believe a tame local media will do everything possible to conceal antisocial behaviour (up to and including assisting the police in hushing up negative stories). We will expose them. At the general election there will be a UKIP candidate.

There is no basis on which to trust a word this government says on immigration. Every single one of Patel’s promises has been broken. This government has an eighty seat majority and has no excuses. They can only blame activist lawyers for so much. When it comes down to it they could change the law with ease, but instead they allow unelected lords to meddle with the borders bill and will meekly shrug their shoulders when the courts hobble it. The bottom line is that the Tories don’t have the political will to take on the blob.

We might venture that one of the reasons for choosing Linton on Ouse is because it’s in one of the safest Tory seats in the country. But Tories should take note that if they can lose North Shropshire and Amersham, they can also lose Thirsk and Malton. We’ll be doing our bit to make that happen.