Rishi Sunak must appear reasonable enough to those MPs who are worried about our international obligations, and impatient enough to those who worry he is not sufficiently serious about tackling small boats.
The Cabinet Office, standing in for the new Home Secretary, had to answer the charge that “borders, security, policing are too important for this kind of instability”.
The media have been quick to pick up on some less well-chosen remarks, but this paints a misleading picture of the full debate.
More women. Fewer minorities. Lots of councillors and former candidates. And fewer married people. Our complete guide to the new intake of Tory MPs.