The Home Office is “not yet fit for purpose,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has admitted following a damning report that exposed a “culture of defeatism” on immigration within the department.
Ms Mahmood vowed to rebuild the department, which is responsible for internal security, public safety and immigration, so that it “delivers for this country.”
The devastating two-month review, commissioned in 2022 by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and led by former Home Office special adviser Nick Timothy (now a Conservative MP), concluded that “too much time is wasted” on identity politics and social issues, with civil servants meeting in “listening circles” to discuss them.
No Single Official Responsible
The report found that no single official is responsible for the immigration system as a whole, describing the structure as “uneven.
This fundamental governance failure means nobody can be held accountable when the immigration system catastrophically fails, as it routinely does.
“Damning” Report
Ms Mahmood said: “This report, written under the last Government, is damning. To those who have encountered the Home Office in recent years, the revelations are all too familiar.
“The Home Office is not yet fit for purpose, and has been set up for failure. As this report shows, the last Conservative Government knew this, but failed to do anything about it.”
She added: “Things are now changing. I will work with the new permanent secretary to transform the Home Office so that it delivers for this country.”
166,000 Asylum Case Backlog
The Home Office was most seriously criticised on its “lethargic” handling of immigration, with a backlog of 166,000 asylum cases and interviews often delayed for up to two years.
The massive backlog means asylum seekers remain in taxpayer-funded accommodation for years whilst their claims languish unprocessed.
Civil Servants Refuse Immigration Work
Civil servants refused to work on immigration due to personal beliefs or fear of “likely legal challenge, and even the possibility of defeat.”
The revelation that Home Office staff simply decline to do their jobs because of personal political views or fear of losing court cases exposes the department’s dysfunction.
“Listening Circles”
The report concluded that “too much time is wasted” on identity politics and social issues, adding that civil servants meet in “listening circles” to discuss them.
Whilst Britain faces a border crisis with record Channel crossings, Home Office staff apparently spend working hours in therapeutic group sessions discussing social justice issues.
Outdated Technology
Outdated technology makes it “impossible to answer straightforward questions quickly,” the report found.
The Home Office’s inability to provide basic data about immigration reflects decades of underinvestment in systems and refusal to modernise.
Don’t Split Department
Mr Timothy dismissed calls to split up the department, calling it a “distraction from the delivery of core business,” and argued that urgent investment in modern, interoperable systems is needed to improve decision-making.
Rather than structural reorganisation, the Home Office needs competent leadership, modern technology and staff willing to enforce immigration laws.
Cleverly: “Lack of Focus”
Speaking to GB News, ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “I did see that amongst certain circles within the Home Office, there was a lack of focus. There was a lack of prioritisation.”
“When I became Home Secretary, I made it very, very clear what our priorities were: securing our borders, protecting women and girls, and ensuring that the kind of crimes that people feel in their everyday lives were gripped.”
“And what I discovered in the department was that it diluted that effort amongst a whole load of other things.”
Reduce Civil Service Size
Cleverly added: “It’s one of the reasons why we need to reduce the size of the civil service, to make sure the people who work for the civil service are excellent and are focused.”
The argument suggests that bloated staffing enables unproductive activity like “listening circles” whilst core functions like processing asylum claims fail.
2025 Crossings Exceed 2024 Total
On Wednesday, over 200 migrants crossed the English Channel, taking the total number of arrivals so far this year to 36,956.
The figure is 70 higher than the 36,816 migrants who crossed the Channel illegally during the whole of 2024 – meaning 2025 has already exceeded last year’s total with two months remaining.
“Shameful” Figures
Ms Mahmood released a statement following the grim milestone, describing the figures as “shameful.”
The statement read: “The previous Government left our borders in crisis, and we are still living with the consequences.”
“These figures are shameful – the British people deserve better.”
Labour’s Claims
“This Government is taking action. We have detained and removed more than 35,000 who were here illegally. Our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.”
The claim about the “historic deal with the French” refers to an agreement that has resulted in just 42 returns to France against over 36,000 arrivals – hardly historic success.
“Go Further and Faster”
“But it is clear we must go further and faster – removing more of those here illegally, and stopping migrants from making small boat crossings in the first place. And I have been clear: I will do whatever it takes to restore order to our border.”
The rhetoric about doing “whatever it takes” rings hollow given Labour scrapped the Rwanda deportation scheme without delivering any effective alternative.
Culture of Defeatism
The “culture of defeatism” identified in the report explains why the Home Office consistently fails to control immigration:
- Civil servants refuse to work on immigration cases
- Fear of legal challenge paralyses decision-making
- Personal political beliefs trump professional duties
- Nobody takes responsibility for system-wide failures
- Focus on identity politics displaces actual work
Personal Beliefs Override Duties
The revelation that civil servants refuse immigration work due to “personal beliefs” represents a fundamental breakdown of civil service impartiality.
Public servants are paid to implement government policy regardless of personal views – those unwilling to enforce immigration laws should find other employment.
Legal Challenge Fear
Civil servants’ fear of “likely legal challenge, and even the possibility of defeat” reflects how judicial activism has paralysed immigration enforcement.
When officials anticipate losing in court, they don’t attempt removals – creating a system where nobody can be deported.
Two-Year Interview Delays
Asylum interviews delayed for up to two years create a perverse incentive for bogus claimants.
Someone claiming asylum knows they’ll receive accommodation and support for at least two years before even being interviewed – making Britain extremely attractive for economic migrants.
Identity Politics Waste
The report’s finding that “too much time is wasted” on identity politics and “listening circles” confirms suspicions that woke ideology has captured the Home Office.
Whilst Britain’s borders collapse, civil servants apparently prioritise discussing their feelings about social issues.
Conservatives Knew, Did Nothing
Mahmood’s accurate observation that “the last Conservative Government knew this, but failed to do anything about it” indicts 14 years of Tory failure.
The Conservatives commissioned this report in 2022, identified the problems, then did nothing to fix them before losing the election.
Labour’s Hypocrisy
However, Labour’s position lacks credibility given they:
- Scrapped Rwanda without replacement
- Preside over record Channel crossings
- Claim success based on 42 returns vs 36,000+ arrivals
- Blame Conservatives whilst failing to deliver solutions
“Historic Deal” Delivers 42 Returns
Mahmood’s characterisation of the France agreement as “historic” becomes laughable when examining results.
With 42 returns against 36,956 arrivals, the “historic deal” has achieved a success rate of approximately 0.11% – hardly transformative.
“Whatever It Takes” Rhetoric
Mahmood’s vow to do “whatever it takes” must be measured against actions:
- No Rwanda-style deterrent implemented
- Failed Balkan return hub negotiations
- France deal delivering negligible returns
- 2025 already exceeding 2024 totals
- Home Office culture unchanged
System “Set Up for Failure”
Mahmood’s admission the Home Office was “set up for failure” raises the question: what is Labour doing to restructure it?
Identifying problems without implementing solutions simply continues the Conservatives’ failure under different management.
Transformation Promises
Mahmood’s promise to “transform the Home Office” requires:
- Removing staff who refuse immigration work
- Ending “listening circles” and identity politics focus
- Modernising technology systems
- Creating clear accountability
- Overcoming legal challenge culture
- Actually deporting failed asylum seekers
Civil Service Reform Needed
Cleverly’s argument for reducing civil service size and ensuring excellence has merit given the dysfunction exposed.
A smaller, focused workforce without staff refusing to enforce laws might achieve more than current bloated, politically-captured bureaucracy.
Bipartisan Failure
The Home Office crisis represents bipartisan failure:
- Conservatives identified problems, did nothing
- Labour inherited dysfunction, delivered no solutions
- Both parties blame each other whilst crossings increase
- Neither implemented effective deterrence
- Civil service culture remains unchanged
As Shabana Mahmood admits the Home Office is “not yet fit for purpose” whilst 2025 Channel crossings exceed 2024’s annual total, her promises of transformation ring hollow without concrete action to address the “culture of defeatism,” remove staff who refuse immigration work, and actually deport the tens of thousands arriving illegally on Britain’s shores.
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