Another Home Secretary on the rocks
James Forsyth 8:49am
The storm that has broken around Jacqui Smith about illegal immigrants working in Whitehall is particularly dangerous for the government as it combines concerns over the loss of control over the borders with fears about security and the government’s reputation for honesty. If they don’t even know the immigration status of the person guarding Gordon Brown’s car then what hope is there that they know the status of anybody else?
The gap between the Home Secretary learning about the problem and it being revealed to the public is also a huge problem for the government as it dredges up memory of Home Office scandals past and allows its critics to suggest that spin was put before public safety. Dealing with this kind of problem, is an occupational hazard of being Home Secretary. We will soon find if Smith, the surprise big promotion of Brown’s first cabinet, is politically fit for purpose.
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Alex, London
November 13th, 2007 11:30am Report this commentJacqui Smith has the look of someone that works in supermarket middle management; maybe Budgens or Kwiksave? No offence intended to managers of Budgens or Kwiksave.
Max Kaye
November 13th, 2007 12:27pm Report this commentNo commercial organisation would employ her type. Try the NHS.
EyeSee
November 13th, 2007 12:42pm Report this commentNow we know who those people were, in the container with Tony Blair's new car -government hired guards. Not illegal immigrants as everyone else refers to them. Trust us with 90 day detention because a)we don't even throw people out of the country who openly support terrorism and b) because we never lie, hide the truth or act incompetently. Ask Sir Ian.
The Chocolate Orange Inspector
November 13th, 2007 12:44pm Report this commentWhy are 90 per cent of socialist female ministers always so fat? Harriet Harman, Ruth Kelly, Jacqui Smith, Tessa Jowell and others ... self-indulgent porkers every one. These gals have never said 'no' to an extra slice of cake in their lives.
James Forsyth
November 13th, 2007 1:09pm Report this commentLet's not be so personal, Chocolate Orange Inspector. It is not like there are not enough substantive grounds on which to criticise them.
bymasson
November 13th, 2007 1:58pm Report this commentWould Mr Brown have the bottle to axe or at the very least chastise her for this? Will he admit or deny any wrong doing? Will he continue to spin or will he say that it's all part of "getting on with the job"? Personally, I think he needs to really tackle this or face more jibes about bottling it.
Tiberius
November 13th, 2007 4:42pm Report this commentJust heard part of her address to Parliament on the radio. She did not put any information into the public domain until the facts had all been established, and this is the proper thing to do, apparently. You wouldn't want her in charge of the lifeboats, would you.
Adrian Drummond
November 13th, 2007 5:13pm Report this commentWhy get so worried on security grounds about people who are not entitled to work in the UK? What about some others who are entitled to work in the UK?
Talia
November 13th, 2007 5:57pm Report this commentThe Home Office claims that ID and criminal checks had been done on all the illegal immigrants. Surely their immigration status would have come to light if these checks had been done properly (or at all)?
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