Countries have a right to control their borders and decide who enters. Someone who leaves their dangerous country to escape persecution or war should be treated differently to someone who leaves their safe country in the hope of economic advancement.

A refugee arriving in a safe country should have their case decided in that country and not automatically acquire the right to move on to other safe countries.

These three propositions are simple common sense, hard to fault in their logic, practicality and fairness. So it says something about international – and especially European – attitudes to immigration issues that by affirming them this week, Theresa May will be challenging much orthodox thinking.

Migration policies have failed to keep pace with changes in the way people move around the world of the early 21st century. Most countries’ rules are not fit for purpose in an era of mass migration.