Sensibly, President Trump has banned people from 43 countries from travelling to the USA. These days politics is so devoid of common sense that such a bold move was bound to be portrayed as another ‘far right’ policy. Trump’s only been in power for 90-odd days, but no-one excites the left quite like him.

DOGE – Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency – run by Elon Musk – is another great idea, unless you held Tesla shares. Finding ways to reduce bureaucracy and wasteful public spending should be an essential function of any government. Now ours claim it’s doing it too.

At face value, Labour’s plan to abolish NHS England was welcome news. The pointlessly bureaucratic quango was created by David Cameron’s government – but look how it grew. It now has 16,000 staff and, apparently, they quietly plan to redeploy half of them.

When I joined the Tory Party many years ago, they were supposed to be the go-to if you wanted smaller government. Traditionally they promised a hands-off approach and less red tape.

By the time Sunak left office, they’d become indistinguishable from Labour. If Starmer’s lot really did manage to reduce public spending, they’d likely remain in power indefinitely.

In the real world, Labour backbenchers forced a U-turn on the audacious plan to freeze Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and their overhyped benefit crackdown won’t even happen for a couple of years yet.

Tony Blair said he’d abolish quangos and cut waste, as did every subsequent Prime Minister. So let’s not hold our collective breath, hoping that Starmer and Co will succeed where all others failed.

Preventing people from entering the country illegally is another lost cause.

So why not try the Trump innovation.

Introduce a travel ban on anyone entering the UK from any country refusing to take back their criminals and illegals?

People sneaking into the USA unlawfully keep their heads down, find work and live underground; the state doesn’t assist them.

Those coming here get long term bed and board and some cash in their hand; no questions asked. To protect their human rights, we happily accept any preposterous back story, however tall the tale. Naturally, the taxpayer funds immigration lawyers and, when applications are refused, coughs up even more for long-winded appeals. If their past life and all that channel crossing anxiety harmed their mental health, we’ll keep on shelling out indefinitely. With an offer like that, it’s almost surprising that only 600 people a day arrive; it should be far more.

France remains a safe country, but the numbers leaving Calais are still increasing. Why not set up a reception and naturalisation centre in the Outer Hebrides?

It’s the perfect place to accommodate people without documentation. Two years of Scottish winters and summer midges will help sort genuine refugees from chancers.

Millions enter and live in America illegally, but that doesn’t stop Uncle Sam from vetting those who arrive legitimately. You always queue for US immigration, and they want fingerprints, passport, visa and a mugshot. I was in Munich last week, post Brexit they insist British passport holders queue alongside some fairly obvious problem travellers. As with the USA, they want your passport, picture and fingerprints. Those ahead of me clutched letters of clarification or explanation too. Processing them took time, and usually a phone call. A few were taken aside for further enquiry.

Did I witness legendary German efficiency?

Er, not quite; anyone who wants to can still drive into Deutschland by car, no-one bothers checking their ‘papers.’

Why does any nation bother with border control when anyone who feels like it can just enter unchecked? Migration and immigration are serious global problems, Trump is determined to act; ours still has no credible plan. Inevitably, that means our bill for dealing with new arrivals will rise indefinitely.