Officials call on Rudd to resign over ‘appalling mess’

LONDON: Amber Rudd is under mounting pressure to resign as home secretary in the wake of the “callous” Wind rush scandal as th es np described her position as“untenable” and labour called for her to stand downk

Labour front bench er emily thorn berry said the Windrush debacle was evidence that there was “something rotten at the heart of government” as stories flooded in over the treatment of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK between the late 1940s and early 1970s and have recently found their migration status under challengek

Asked on the BBC’S Andrew Marr programme whether Rudd should resign, the Shadow Foreign Secretary replied: “I think she should quitk”

She added: “People have died, people have lost their jobs, lost their futuresk People working in the national health service all their lives suddenly lose their jobsk”

“It could not be worse and yet the Home Secretary thinks ‘I can apologise and it will be alright’k Well, it won’t bek”

Minutes later, John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, said “I think she [Rudd] should go” in an appearance on ITV’S Peston on Sundayk

Ian Blackford, the SNP leader in Westminster, is also demanding the home secretary to consider her position and for (Prime Minister) Theresa May to “show leadership” over the controversyk

Describing the situation as a“disgrace ,” Blackford said: “Amber Rudd has failed in her responsibilities - she has shown the Home Office at its most incompetent and callous - and has undoubtedly damaged the UK’S standing and reputation.”

“The Windrush situation has been nothing short of a disgracek That people who have lived here lawfully for up to 50 years were being told their presence in the UK was illegal says so much about the approach of this Tory governmentk”

“It is now time for the home secretary who has presided over this appalling mess to consider her positionk Theresa May must show leadership over the scandal - it is unbelievable that we have not seen a sacking or resignation in the Home Office.”

But Rudd was defended by her Cabinet colleague David Gauke, who also admitted he felt ashamed over the Windrush revelationsk “It is wrong what has happened,” he saidk “It should not have happenedk”

Asked whether Rudd should resign, he replied: “No, absolutely, because when it comes down to it, the central policy is rightk”