Britain’s Home Office operates a surprising policy: helping Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to dominate football’s Premier League whilst also inflating footballers’ wages, so pushing up ticket prices. These all flow from its ill-considered immigration rules.

This would not be such a problem if the government were to confine its attention to the beautiful game. But, now, it is applying the principles that inform its immigration rules for footballers more widely. Under its newly-tightened system, companies can hire non-European staff only if they meet thresholds for skills and training to enter the country.