Newscast The ‘Not Fit For Purpose’ Department - Part 2
Apr 4, 2026
Amber Rudd, former Conservative Home Secretary, shares personal anecdotes on immigration, policing and departmental operations. Charles Clarke, former Labour Home Secretary, brings long‑standing reflections on leading the same ministry. They compare leadership challenges, crisis duties, immigration pressures, policing relationships and the need for international cooperation in managing borders.
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Control Not Numbers Drives Immigration Anxiety
- The absence of transitional controls for eastern EU expansion increased immigration salience but wasn't the sole cause of public concern.
- Charles Clarke says the core problem is perceived lack of control over immigration, not just numbers.
Use Expert Advice To Balance Migration And Labour
- Use an independent advisory body to balance labour market needs against migration policy.
- Charles Clarke cites creating the Migration Advisory Committee to weigh skill shortages (e.g., dentists) versus training timelines.
Calais Camps Highlighted Franco British Teamwork
- Amber Rudd describes inheriting strong Franco‑British cooperation on Calais and an operational system that handled legal and illegal migration.
- She contrasts effective bilateral relations then with deterioration she later observed.