Government Faces Uphill Battle with Home Office Over Controversial Policy, as Election Looms
The Conservative Government, led by Rishi Sunak, is grappling with an impending crisis as it races against time to implement its contentious plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. This urgency follows the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of the scheme, sparking fears among Tory ranks that left-leaning civil servants may intentionally delay its progress.
In a political landscape already charged with tension, the suspicion that the Home Office’s top brass harbors left-wing sympathies has intensified. The move of former senior civil servant Sue Gray to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s office has only fueled these concerns, suggesting an ideological rift within the Civil Service.
New Home Secretary James Cleverly faces the daunting task of reshaping the Home Office, a department perceived to be in disarray following Suella Braverman’s departure. Reports from insiders indicate a pervasive “culture of defiance,” with suggestions of stringent border controls often met with scorn or outright dismissal.
Marco Longhi, a Tory member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, has called for a comprehensive review of the Home Office’s operations. He expresses concern over the alleged anti-government stance prevalent within the department, emphasising the need for substantial reforms.
The internal discord is not just limited to policy opposition. A former senior figure in the Home Office described the open resistance to government policies as “a ****ing outrage,” advocating for major changes in Whitehall’s functioning. Another ex-employee highlighted the widespread disdain for the Rwanda policy, estimating that about 80% of Home Office staff lean liberal.
Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski has voiced concerns over the civil service’s influence, particularly following Sue Gray’s transition to the Labour Party. He fears that the civil service elite may stall the Rwanda plans until the next general election, undermining government authority.
Trade unions representing civil servants have strongly refuted these allegations. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, criticised the government’s attempt to blame the Civil Service for the legal challenges faced by its Rwanda policy.
Amidst these tensions, a Home Office spokeswoman has affirmed the commitment of thousands of civil servants to execute the government’s agenda, including the Rwanda plan and tackling illegal immigration. Story Source
