Inside Politics: Priti Patel makes her point with immigration plan

Points win prizes – even when the prize is the heavyweight championship of the world. Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury is convinced he has what it takes to beat Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder on points this weekend because the Las Vegas judges just love the British boxer’s “slick style”. The home secretary – Priti “Resting Smiley Face” Patel – is hoping to deliver a knock-out blow to low-skilled labour when she outlines her plan for a points-based immigration system today. The ringside judges at the Home Office will soon be demanding newcomers to the UK have a satisfactory salary and sufficiently “slick style” when it comes to the English language. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing.

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for at Westminster today:

Boris Johnson is expected to meet his new chancellor Rishi Sunak to go over budget plans, as speculation mounts they are ready to cut pension tax breaks. But Priti Patel should take centre stage when she unveils a long-awaited immigration regime to take effect next January. The home secretary will hail “taking back control” of immigration as honouring Vote Leave referendum and Tory election pledges of an Australian-style points-based system. But critics will argue it falls short of that – points will apply only for highly-skilled workers.

POINTS IN THE BAG: This government would really like foreigners to be well-educated, well-paid and speak English with clear diction for now on, thank you very much. Priti Patel will explain today why she wants “the brightest and the best” coming to the UK, saying it is “right” people should have a solid grasp of the language before arriving. Under the new system, immigrants will need to have a guaranteed skilled job paying at least £25,600 and reach 70 points under various criteria. The new rules could shut the door on 140,000 workers from the EU. The Lib Dems said the plan was based on “xenophobia”, Unison said it would spell “disaster for the care sector”, and the National Farmers’ Union has “serious concerns”. It isn’t tough enough for the folk at Migration Watch UK, who are worried about “massive loopholes”. It’s almost as if the slogan “taking back control” was some kind of vague, misleading fantasy destined to please no-one.

HANG ONTO TO YOUR MARBLES: Michel Barnier has some bad news for Boris Johnson: the vague, misleading fantasy of a “Canada-style” free trade deal ain’t gonna happen. The EU’s chief negotiator said our “economic closeness” means a potential agreement “can’t be compared to Canada”. Brussels remains insistent on so-called level-playing rules to prevent British companies getting the chance to undercut EU rivals. Apparently Greece spies a chance to undercut our museum exhibits. A leaked draft of Brussels’ negotiation demands reportedly included a requirement that Britain gives back “unlawfully removed cultural objects” – but No 10 has insisted returning the Parthenon marbles to Athens will not be discussed in the trade talks. Another thing that won’t be discussed is British nationals getting “associate” EU citizenship rights after Brexit. But it hasn’t stopped Mayor of London Sadiq Khan promising to fight for it. His rival Rory Stewart dismissed it as an unworkable “soundbite”.

LIT CRIT AT THE BRITS: Boris Johnson may be politely informed at his morning briefing he was called a “racist” at last night’s Brit Awards. UK rapper Dave performed a newly-penned verse at the show condemning the government’s response to Grenfell. It included the line: “The truth is our prime minister is a real racist”. He wasn’t the only Tory leader getting called out at the ceremony. US rapper Tyler, the Creator complained about his visa issues. “A special shout out to someone I hold dear to my heart who made it where I couldn’t come to this country five years ago. I know she’s at home p***** off – thank you Theresa May.” There must be something in the air: even cabinet members are in defiant mood. Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng broke with Downing Street discipline and attacked Dominic Cummings’ hiring practices after eugenics-loving “weirdo” Andrew Sabisky was forced out. “We should prevent racists coming into No 10 … I think that we do need to look at these processes.”

EXOTIC CREATURE: Maybe Cummings should have taken a turn on stage at the Brits: he sure does love the spotlight. Former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke thinks the showboating cannot last. Describing Cummings as an “exotic aide”, Clarke argued he must become a “back room operator” if he wants to stay in the role. No 10 advisors “don’t normally dress exotically and pose for the photographers before giving … briefings all over the place”, said Clarke. Who knew Dom was posing so provocatively in those low-slung slacks and scruffy jumpers!? Alastair Campbell offered similar analysis in his latest piece, claiming Johnson’s “laziness” has “opened a door” for Cummings to set the agenda at No 10. As for Mr Exotic himself, he’s offered us a book recommendation. He told everyone to read Philip Tetlock’s Superforecasters “rather than listening to pundits who don’t know anything”.

NOT SO SISTERLY: The latest feud in the Labour leadership contest involves a note sent out by the left-wing stalwarts at Momentum. According to Politics Home, supporters were told Rebecca Long-Bailey was the only candidate “who opposed the 2015 welfare bill”. Lisa Nandy backer Louise Haigh MP said she had now contacted the group three times to get them to “retract” the “negative attacks” – pointing out that Nandy was on maternity leave at the time of the 2015 vote. Nandy herself had previously called a Momentum video making the same claim – since deleted – “disingenuous and ugly” and urged everyone to keep it “sisterly”. The Lib Dems want Labour people to stop squabbling and offer something positive. Like electoral reform. The party’s spokesperson for constitutional affairs Wendy Chamberlain urged the candidates to back proportional representation, claiming politics is “broken” and now was the perfect chance to “hit the reset button”.

“Let’s fight together for European associated citizenship for all those who want to keep their link with Europe.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan thinks British nationals should be able to get EU citizenship rights after Brexit.

“Bumper Brit Awards including Tyler the Creator calling out Theresa May who banned him from UK as Home Secretary and these great lyrics from album of the year winner Dave.”

Labour MP Rupa Huq enjoyed this year’s show...

“The government is definitely scrapping the licence fee now - the BBC just replayed rapper Dave’s comments about Boris Johnson on the 10 o’clock news.”

...while The Independent’s Ashley Cowburn suggests the Beeb could get caught up in the fall-out.

Vince Cable, The Independent: With a gloomy economic outlook, Rishi Sunak will need to learn the lessons of the past to impress voters

Tom Peck, The Independent: Just like that, Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership performance has gone from hopeful to utterly hopeless

Kate Andrews, The Spectator: In defence of Sadiq Khan’s EU citizenship plan

Chris Cillizza, CNN: Here’s exactly how Michael Bloomberg is surging