A failure of values that shames Britain

THE Windrush scandal has exposed a crisis of competence, values and leadership at the heart of the UK Government.

All governments have a duty to enforce an immigration and border system which is robust and efficient, which ensures that the country is able to welcome people who can contribute to society while keeping out those who would do us harm.

But in this true fiasco we see the relatives of people we encouraged to come to the UK to help build our modern country being hounded, denied medical care, and persecuted in other odious ways.

What has unfolded is a narrative that could have come from the darkest corners of the imaginations of George Orwell or Franz Kafka. How many of us could provide specific documentation that we have been present in the UK every year of our lives? This episode proves that the state can be an agent of fear, pain and cruelty not through malicious intent but a dangerous brew of incompetence and callousness.

But it is not just a case of poor management. It was initially denied that removal targets were set for immigration officials. Now it has emerged there were “local” targets for “internal” use.

Everything the Home Office does is overshadowed by one giant target which critics regard as both arbitrary and unrealistic – bringing net immigration down to under 100,000.

There are concerns about the scale of immigration to the UK and the pace of social transformation this has powered. Concern about dramatic changes to towns and cities in recent decades may well have contributed to the 2016 vote for Brexit. But mature and responsible political leaders address anxieties head-on and are frank with the public about the vital role that workers from outside the UK play in sustaining our health service, our caring professions and our wealth-creating industries.

Great leaders will not pander to toxic prejudices or exploit grievances, and they will certainly not do anything which will frighten people who have legally lived here for years and contributed to our communities.

It is lousy leadership to dodge tough debates and instead seek to make coming to the UK and living here a difficult, complex and expensive experience for students and skilled workers.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd needs to show – fast – that she can get a grip on the Home Office and restore common sense and values.