October 7: May gets tough with migrants

Yet, while many will regard Mrs May’s party conference speech as a populist pitch for the Tory leadership, there is just one fundamental flaw with her argument – she has been in charge of the Home Office for the past five years, and the Conservatives failed to deliver the “cast iron” guarantees that David Cameron promised in 2010.

Now that the Tories are free from the shackles of coalition Government, the onus is now on Mrs May to turn her rhetoric into practical policies which control migration levels while offering sanctuary to those asylum seekers who are genuinely fleeing from persecution. It defies belief, for example, that £4m has been spent in the past five years processing asylum applications from EU nationals – these frivolous claims make it harder to differentiate between legitimate asylum-seekers and those attempting to exploit Britain’s benevolence.

However, Mrs May’s uncompromising speech should be accompanied by two caveats. First, it is imperative that Britain’s asylum policy is underpinned by humanity where appropriate. Second, the Home Secretary’s assertion that the UK “does not need” large numbers of foreign arrivals neglects the fact that the NHS could not function without migrant labour; universities are increasingly reliant on foreign students for funding and visa rules will need to be relaxed to attract those world-class engineers who hold the key to the implementation of George Osborne’s infrastructure revolution. If Mrs May can achieve these safeguards, she will have enhanced not just her reputation – but also her future career ambitions. In the meantime, she has her work cut out.

A creative force

Make the arts a powerhouse

THE launch of The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture is not only a feather in the art world’s cap, but Yorkshire’s,too. Billed as sculpture’s answer to the Turner Prize, the £30,000 award, which boasts The Yorkshire Post

as its regional media partner, is another coup for The Hepworth Wakefield.

Since opening in 2011, the gallery, named after Yorkshire sculptor Barbara Hepworth, has enjoyed great success and forms part of the widely-acclaimed Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, along with The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

These are exciting times for the arts and culture in Yorkshire. The British Art Show returns to Leeds this week after more than 25 years, offering a timely boost to the city ahead of its upcoming bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2023.

Before then Hull hosts the prestigious Turner Prize as part of its year as UK City of Culture 2017. As well as putting a positive spotlight on the city, events like this generate millions of pounds.

According to figures from Arts Council England, for every £1 invested in arts and culture up to £6 is generated for the local economy. Yorkshire is home to some of the best galleries, museums and theatres in the country and at a time when politicians are keen to talk up the Northern Powerhouse, why not create a similar vision for the arts to sit alongside the Government’s regeneration blueprint? The arts should not be viewed as a luxury that can be dispensed with when times are hard, they are a necessity. Not only do they enrich lives, but they can be a catalyst for economic growth.

Boycott’s backing

Yorkshire Air Ambulance lift-off

THE one and only Geoffrey Boycott played many important innings during his distinguished cricketing career with Yorkshire and England – he continues to be revered by many as one of his sport’s most obdurate opening batsmen.

Yet few could be as important as his latest challenge as patron of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and Boycott is already making his mark. Inspired by the television series Helicopter Heroes, he helped to raise £35,000 at a lavish garden party which he hosted with his wife Rachael before persuading Chancellor George Osborne to dig deep to make an additional £1m available to the charity for a new helicopter.

Given the extent to which Yorkshire Air Ambulance rely upon the benevolence of charitable donations to maintain a service that can mean the difference between life and death to accident victims and so on, the retired cricketer’s support can only help to raise the organisation’s profile still further.