Blunkett: facing inquiry calls

The home secretary is facing renewed calls for a full inquiry into the immigration crisis in the wake of the resignation of Beverley Hughes.

The Home Office minister was forced to resign following revelations that she was warned about immigration abuse last March.

Speaking on Thursday David Blunkett said Hughes' resignation amounted to the "worst day" of his political life.

He said Hughes was a "highly able, honest, competent minister" who had faced "weeks of vitriol" at the hands of the media.

But the opposition parties are demanding to know whether senior ministers, including Blunkett himself, have further questions to answer.

The Tories are also asking whether the resignation of Ms Hughes raises questions over the Home Secretary's judgement, after he threw so much of his own political weight behind her.

Dossier

Michael Howard said the situation proved the government "had let the country down" by failing to ensure immigration checks were rigorous.

"It is quite clear from what has happened over the last month that the government's policy on immigration is in chaos," he said.

Singling out the home secretary for particular criticism, the Tories published a dossier of David Blunkett's remarks, and called for a full investigation into the immigration crisis.

"This goes beyond simple administrative failure. The home secretary is ultimately responsible for politically driven migration policies where the prime goal is to massage statistics," said shadow home secretary David Davis.

"At present, fraudulent claims are allowed to go unchecked, just to meet Labour's targets. This cannot be allowed to continue.

"David Blunkett has said that he is ultimately responsible for the policies of his department. We agree.

"We need an independent inquiry to find out what's been going on in the Home Office. The quicker the mess inside the Immigration Service is sorted out, the better."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "I remain convinced that the only way that we can settle this is not with a ministerial resignation but a full,
proper, independent inquiry.

"The home secretary should move this morning to do that."

Pressure

Beverley Hughes had been under pressure for weeks following claims she failed to act on warnings of a scam concerning work visas from eastern Europe.

She eventually resigned after it emerged that she was warned in writing about immigration abuse by then junior Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth on March 4 last year - something she had denied.

In a Commons resignation statement Hughes defended her actions over weeks of "sustained parliamentary and media criticism".

"I have done my best to answer whatever questions I have faced honestly," she said.

"I am proud of what I have achieved over the last two years."

Suggesting there was a "special obligation" on ministers dealing with immigration, Hughes added: "I cannot in conscience continue as immigration minister."

Downing Street has announced that Des Browne, the work minister, is to replace Hughes at the Home Office.

Hughes’ resignation puts the spotlight firmly back on David Blunkett - although unless the Tories can significantly increase the pressure on the home secretary he is expected to survive.