It isn't only a question of political astuteness though. It's obvious that it won't work. Only an idiot would think that someone who is prepared to risk their life crossing the channel in a small boat is going to be put off by a digital ID.

I don't think I want to even consider that he might be dismantling our freedom to appease the far right in the hope that they won't notice that it hasn't done anything. I don't think you call that a lack of political astuteness. That would be rank stupidity.