She is right to eschew targets, as her experience with the misjudged promise to reduce overall net immigration to “tens of thousands” shows. Much as the regrettable attempt to fix aid spending has warped Whitehall and fuelled public anger, the “tens of thousands” target, missed by wide margins, has skewed entry rules and left voters cynical. Better to decide what skills the economy needs, then admit them under a regime made and explained by ministers – and properly fund the public services affected by the new arrivals.

It will take time for the post-EU immigration regime to take shape, but Mrs May has set the right direction. If any reminder was needed about why Britain was correct to regain control of its borders, look to Germany. Whether this week’s horror in Berlin was caused by someone admitted under Angela Merkel’s open-door policy, Germany has already suffered fatal terrorism facilitated by the EU’s failure to control its borders, external and internal.

The first duty of a state is its people’s security; that means proper immigration control. Thankfully, Britain will soon have that again.