Immigration statistics row kicks off general election year

Future debates will focus on government promises and use of Home Office statistics

It will surprise no one that a general election year has begun with a row over immigration – a crucial issue for voters in key parliamentary seats which will determine the UK’s next government.

But the intensity of the row – with Rishi Sunak accused by Labour of indulging in “a barefaced lie” – is an indication of the way in which future debates will focus on promises made by the government and the use of Home Office statistics.