British interior minister Amber Rudd resigns after immigration scandal

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British interior minister Rudd resigns after immigration scandal

Andrew MacAskill

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd speaks at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s interior minister resigned on Sunday after Prime Minister Theresa May’s government faced an outpouring of indignation over its treatment of some long-term Caribbean residents who were wrongly labeled illegal immigrants.

 

The resignation of one of May’s closest allies is a blow as she navigates the final year of negotiations ahead of Britain’s exit from the European Union in March 2019. It also deprives the cabinet of one of its most outspoken pro-European members.

 

In a resignation letter to May, Amber Rudd said she had inadvertently misled a parliamentary committee last Wednesday by denying the government had targets for the deportation of illegal migrants. May accepted her resignation.

 

For two weeks, British ministers have been struggling to explain why some descendants of the so-called “Windrush generation”, invited to Britain to plug labor shortfalls between 1948 and 1971, had been denied basic rights.

 

The Windrush scandal overshadowed the Commonwealth summit in London and has raised questions about May’s six-year stint as interior minister before she became prime minister in the wake of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

 

“The Windrush scandal has rightly shone a light on an important issue for our country,” Rudd said in a resignation letter to May.

Rudd, who was appointed Home Secretary in 2016, said voters wanted those who had the right to reside in Britain to be treated fairly and humanely but also that illegal immigrants be removed.

 

The opposition Labour Party, which had repeatedly called on Rudd to resign, said May was responsible and should explain her own role in the government’s immigration policies.

 

“The architect of this crisis, Theresa May, must now step forward to give an immediate, full and honest account of how this inexcusable situation happened on her watch,” said Diane Abbott, Labour’s spokeswoman on interior affairs.

 

Abbott called on May to give a statement to the House of Commons explaining whether she knew that Rudd was misleading parliament about the deportation targets.

 

Facing questions over the Windrush scandal, Rudd, 54, told lawmakers on Wednesday that Britain did not have targets for the removal of immigrants, but was forced to clarify her words after leaked documents showed some targets did exist.

 

The Guardian newspaper on Sunday reported a letter from Rudd to May last year in which she stated an “ambitious but deliverable” aim for an increase in the enforced deportation of immigrants.

 

After repeated challenges to her testimony on the deportation of immigrants, Rudd telephoned May on Sunday and offered her resignation.

 

“I feel it is necessary to do so because I inadvertently misled the Home Affairs Select Committee over targets for removal of illegal immigrants,” Rudd told May.

 

A replacement is not likely to be announced overnight.

 

WINDRUSH CRISIS

The government has apologized for the fiasco, promised citizenship and compensation to those affected, including to people who have lost their jobs, been threatened with deportation and denied benefits because of the errors.

 

But the controversy over policies which May is closely associated with has raised awkward questions about how the pursuit of lower immigration after Brexit sits alongside the desire to be an outward-looking global economy.

 

The immigrants are named after the Empire Windrush, one of the first ships to bring Caribbean migrants to Britain in 1948, when Commonwealth citizens were invited to fill labor shortages and help rebuild the economy after World War Two.

 

Almost half a million people left their homes in the West Indies to live in Britain between 1948 and 1970, according to Britain’s National Archives.

 

A week before local elections, May apologized to the black community on Thursday in a letter to The Voice, Britain’s national Afro-Caribbean newspaper.

 

“We have let you down and I am deeply sorry,” she said. “But apologies alone are not good enough. We must urgently right this historic wrong.”

 

The crisis has focused attention on May, who as interior minister set out to create a “really hostile environment” for illegal immigrants, imposing tough new requirements in 2012 for people to prove their legal status.

 

Rudd’s resignation comes four months after another close ally and her then most senior minister, Damian Green, was forced out of his job for lying about whether he knew pornography had been found on computers in his parliamentary office.

 

Anna Soubry, a Conservative lawmaker, predicted Rudd may one day return to a senior job in government.

 

“She is a woman of great courage & immense ability,” Soubry said. “If there is any justice she will soon return to the highest of office.”

 

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-30

[Odysseus123]

It has never ceased to amaze me that countries that begged for immigrant labour after the Second World War often treated those who came extremely badly and their descendants with gross didain.

 

Even Australia treated it's Barnardo's Boys-shipped from Britain-appallingly.The horror stories of those children now fill entire books.

[Grouse]

So Amber took the bullet for Theresa. I suppose she had little choice

 

The government will now learn that it would have been better to keep her "in the tent". Outside, she will a major force against Gove and Boris. No need to hold the cabinet line now!

 

Maybe JRM will get the home office?

[Chomper Higgot]

At long last, the institutional racism within the UK Tory Government makes its way onto TV News forum.

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, Grouse said:

So Amber took the bullet for Theresa. I suppose she had little choice

 

The government will now learn that it would have been better to keep her "in the tent". Outside, she will a major force against Gove and Boris. No need to hold the cabinet line now!

 

Maybe JRM will get the home office?

Rudd has taken some of the flak for the PM, but as Home Secretary she carries responsibility for policies enacted by the Home Office. 

 

It might be tempting to view her resignation as a welcome change to ministers refusing to resign when matters under their ministerial control become scandals, but the Tory Government's policies towards the Windrush Generation are far more than simply a 'scandal', they are the outcome of institutional racism in the Tory party.

 

Rudd did not only enact these policies she was in the process of taking even more draconian action before the plight of the Windrush Generation was publicised. 

 

This does not get the PM off the hook. It is the PM who is directing Tory party policy to the hard right. 

[nausea]

Seems like a decent bloke, right? She was just doing her job, right? It's all about figures right? Screw the human beings involved, right?

[tonbridgebrit]

Amber Rudd, a bunch of blacks who were suppose to be in Britain were threatened with deportation. A few of them might have been deported. You are the Home Secretary, and you are partly responsible. You had to go.

I really wonder about Theresa May's position. Theresa May was Home Secretary before you.

[Baerboxer]

She deliberately lied and quite rightly has been forced to resign.

 

Now, if only all the others, from all parties and sides, who regularly lie were forced to resign we might get some decent people standing for parliament for a change.

 

Although here, of course, she'd have simply denied, obfuscated and lied some more - but kept her job! 

 

Interesting to see that the investigation into Keith Vaz and his 4 million GBP unexplained wealth is apparently back on despite the previous attempts to bury it. They say it's not who he knows but what he knows about who he knows that's enabled his avoidance of criminal charges in the past. Should be interesting if he spills the beans - Labor must be worried.

[champers]

Talking tough at Tory party conferences and then enacting horrible policies which are morally bankrupt are hallmarks of Tories. If some of the media push this hard enough they could topple May.

[Expatthailover]

1 hour ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Amber Rudd, a bunch of blacks who were suppose to be in Britain were threatened with deportation. A few of them might have been deported. You are the Home Secretary, and you are partly responsible. You had to go.

I really wonder about Theresa May's position. Theresa May was Home Secretary before you.

Seriously...a bunch of blacks????

An alf garnet aficionado!

 

[goldenbrwn1]

Amber Rudd took the bullet not just for Theresa May and the Conservatives  but also previous Labour Governments and Labour Home Secretaries. This goes way back , let us not forget that.

Edited April 30, 2018 by goldenbrwn1

[Expatthailover]

Just now, champers said:

Talking tough at Tory party conferences and then enacting horrible policies which are morally bankrupt are hallmarks of Tories. If some of the media push this hard enough they could topple May.

I think there's a whole lot more to be revealed re the morally bankrupt tories courtesy of the yew tree investigation.

Unfortunately the high price help is keeping the dogs at bay.

By all accounts ted heath was fond of splicing the main brace

[champers]

2 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Amber Rudd took the bullet not just for Theresa May and the Conservatives  but also previous Labour Governments and Labour Home Secretaries. This goes way back , let’s not forget that.

This especially vile approach to West Indians; invited here to help rebuild post-war Britain; originated during David Cameron's time as PM when Teresa May was Home Secretary. In what way are Labour involved?

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, champers said:

Talking tough at Tory party conferences and then enacting horrible policies which are morally bankrupt are hallmarks of Tories. If some of the media push this hard enough they could topple May.

They are busy trying to topple Corbyn.

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Amber Rudd took the bullet not just for Theresa May and the Conservatives  but also previous Labour Governments and Labour Home Secretaries. This goes way back , let us not forget that.

The decision to deny the Windrush Generation their rights to live in the UK, rights to health care, rights to housing, rights to welfare and the decision these people was entirely that of the Tory government, pandering to racists in the electorate. 

 

Labour played no part in these racist decisions and the inhuman treatment the Tory government has been dishing out. 

[mercman24]

only a politician could come up with the word MISLEADING,  when every man in the street would call it LYING

[Basil B]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The decision to deny the Windrush Generation their rights to live in the UK, rights to health care, rights to housing, rights to welfare and the decision these people was entirely that of the Tory government, pandering to racists in the electorate. 

 

Labour played no part in these racist decisions and the inhuman treatment the Tory government has been dishing out. 

Labour played it's part in inviting these people here, Labour played it's part in failing to provide these people with proper documentation, labour instigated the destruction of immigration records...

[Basil B]

Rudd just did not have the Teflon knickers of her predecessor to whom many a junior minister would fall upon the sward for her incompetence.  

[Basil B]

Rudd fell because she mislead Parliament not because of the "hostile environment" policies towards immigrants.

 

The "Hostile Environment" was the brain child of May when she was Secretary for State back in 2012.   

[altcar bob]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

At long last, the institutional racism within the UK Tory Government makes its way onto TV News forum.

All the Windrush crew and hangers on want is free housing and money   not too much to hope for   hash  not from me

[goldenbrwn1]

59 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The decision to deny the Windrush Generation their rights to live in the UK, rights to health care, rights to housing, rights to welfare and the decision these people was entirely that of the Tory government, pandering to racists in the electorate. 

 

Labour played no part in these racist decisions and the inhuman treatment the Tory government has been dishing out. 

I’m not saying it’s not a terrible thing to happen , it truly is. This was all legal immigration post WW11 and was very much appreciated and needed.  And yes I think Theresa May should take most of the flak and apologise for this dreadful mistake.  But please don’t let your blind hatred for the Tory government not let you look at who else would have known about this for many years and why now has it only come to light?    

 

Remember immigration is the number one thing on the electorates mind and it’s always for control/less.

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by goldenbrwn1

[sammieuk1]

Worry not Cameron will console her with a go on his pig.

[Basil B]

2 minutes ago, altcar bob said:

All the Windrush crew and hangers on want is free housing and money   not too much to hope for   hash  not from me

Many have worked hard, paid their taxes, and lived in the UK for over 50 years.

 

When trying to prove their status and that they have lived in the UK all that time the Immigration people do not look at their tax records.

 

I do not believe in a blanket amnesty for undocumented immigrants, but do believe that any one who claims to have come to the UK before 1970 or they are decedents of, and born in the UK, and paid their due taxes should have the the right to stay unless it is proved they came here illegally.

[Basil B]

14 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Remember immigration is is the number one thing on the electorates mind and it’s always for control/less.

And yes, this Thursday there are local elections in the UK, and we see Labour and Tories trying to point score on issues to win over the voters... 

[goldenbrwn1]

Why do these type of embarrassments concerning the U.K. government of late alway come at times to have the greatest impact??   Windrush for example....just in time for the commonwealth  summit ....

Did no one aside from the Tory government  have any idea of this for years before the summit??   ? 

I’m no conspiracy theorist but I find this kind of political play distasteful.

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rudd has taken some of the flak for the PM, but as Home Secretary she carries responsibility for policies enacted by the Home Office. 

 

It might be tempting to view her resignation as a welcome change to ministers refusing to resign when matters under their ministerial control become scandals, but the Tory Government's policies towards the Windrush Generation are far more than simply a 'scandal', they are the outcome of institutional racism in the Tory party.

 

Rudd did not only enact these policies she was in the process of taking even more draconian action before the plight of the Windrush Generation was publicised. 

 

This does not get the PM off the hook. It is the PM who is directing Tory party policy to the hard right. 

 

Curiously in parallel, there was a long report the other day in the Los Angeles Times reporting many cases where the U.S. immigration authorities in recent years have been arresting, detaining and even deporting legitimate U.S. citizens.

 

In the reported cases, and there were many, those arrested typically were foreign born who gained their U.S. citizenship subsequently, often as children. And then, because of poor record keeping or bureaucratic indifference, the Immigration officials later end up arresting these people for allegedly being illegal immigrants.

 

In the report, there were stories of those arrested having U.S. passports, or family members bringing U.S. passports for the people arrested, and the Immigration/detention staff either not believing the documents were real or not bothering to even look at them -- convinced that the detainees were illegals because that's what their computer systems wrongly told them.

 

In short, in the U.S., even as a legitimate U.S. citizen with a real U.S. passport, it doesn't necessarily mean your going to be safe from abuse by the Immigration authorities, especially if you started out being born in a foreign country.

 

 

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The decision to deny the Windrush Generation their rights to live in the UK, rights to health care, rights to housing, rights to welfare and the decision these people was entirely that of the Tory government, pandering to racists in the electorate. 

 

Labour played no part in these racist decisions and the inhuman treatment the Tory government has been dishing out. 

Find it hard to understand how you virtue signalling lefties can stomach living in Thailand  with it's more or less blanket ban on immigration.

Uk, despite its overcrowding, has been second to none in looking after immigrants. If only we looked after our own as well.

[goldenbrwn1]

49 minutes ago, Basil B said:

And yes, this Thursday there are local elections in the UK, and we see Labour and Tories trying to point score on issues to win over the voters... 

And yes Labour  aswell as the conservatives are fully aware of the publics overall opinion and not just the very loud opinion of a very small percentage.

 

https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefing-paper/361

[Grouse]

I followed Transam's advice and watched ALL episodes of UK Border Force. Recommended.

 

They need more staff and more resources generally. The oft used ploy of "losing" a passport  so that they cannot be deported is a loophole that must be closed.

 

As you all know, I am anti Islamist but have no problem with the other immigrants in general.

 

I thought Rudd was reasonably competent actually. She will be back, maybe as PM!

[dunroaming]

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rudd has taken some of the flak for the PM, but as Home Secretary she carries responsibility for policies enacted by the Home Office. 

 

It might be tempting to view her resignation as a welcome change to ministers refusing to resign when matters under their ministerial control become scandals, but the Tory Government's policies towards the Windrush Generation are far more than simply a 'scandal', they are the outcome of institutional racism in the Tory party.

 

Rudd did not only enact these policies she was in the process of taking even more draconian action before the plight of the Windrush Generation was publicised. 

 

This does not get the PM off the hook. It is the PM who is directing Tory party policy to the hard right. 

Not just the Tory Party that are the racists, Labour have their fair share too!

 

But this is not going to end here, I am sure.  There are going to be more knives out for May and a lot of tricky questions for her to try to avoid answering. Local elections this week and although this is not directly relevant it will probably have some effect on the results.  What a mess this government is and what a mess the opposition is too!

 

But this has other possible consequences that may well effect Brexit.  Amber Rudd was a remainer and if she is replaced by a hard Brexiteer than it will certainly tilt the balance towards a harder Brexit.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by dunroaming