Theresa May’s 12 December speech follows many robust government statements on curbing immigration. However, it may presage a slight change of tack. Our concern has been that in reducing immigration, the new rules have often engaged the wrong target, causing undesirable collateral damage. There now appears to be recognition of this. The speech mentions specifically “measures we are taking to make us more discerning when it comes to stopping the wrong people from coming here and even more welcoming to the people we want to come”. The proof will be in the pudding, but let us hope she delivers.