Home Office 1) Patel gets ‘storm warning’ over civil service clashes

“A former chief civil servant at the Home Office has warned that the department is in the grip of a number of “tropical storms” amid reports of clashes between Priti Patel and her chief mandarin. Sir David Normington, a former permanent secretary who served under five ministers at the Home Office, also warned that the government’s timetable for a new immigration system would be “tight”. He urged Patel, the home secretary, to work closely with the department’s permanent secretary amid suggestions that she is trying to oust him… Asked about current tensions at the top of the department, he told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that it could sometimes come as “very unwelcome news” when civil servants presented ministers with facts, evidence and sometimes advice to slow down proposals.” – The Guardian

• Patel row: top civil servants call for complaints system – Daily Telegraph
• Home Secretary ‘accused of bullying civil servants for at least five years’ – The Sun

Comment:

• Patel’s ‘bullying’ stems from her inadequacy – Mathew Parris, The Times

>Today: ToryDiary: Is the Home Office still unfit for purpose?

Home Office 2) Department could absorb elements of Justice in Whitehall shakeup

“A Whitehall shakeup could see the Ministry of Justice scrapped and some of its powers moved to the Home Office, the Daily Telegraph understands Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, is expected to be given responsibility for sentencing in the Ministry of Justice, a government source told the Telegraph. The move would be seen as a first step in a Whitehall shakeup to take sentencing and possibly probation out of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) altogether and given to the Home Office. Mr Malthouse was described as a “lynchpin” of the plans by a source close to the discussions. “The long term aim is to merge the Home Office with elements of the MoJ.”” – Daily Telegraph

Home Office 3) May warned to ‘expect criticism’ in Windrush report

“Theresa May has been formally told she will be criticised in an independent review over the “hostile environment” policy for Windrush migrants, The Times can disclose. The former prime minister has been written to as part of the “Maxwellisation” process, which gives those who are criticised in the report an opportunity to respond. Mrs May was home secretary between 2010 and 2016, when Caribbean migrants were detained or deported despite having the right to live in Britain… Previous leaked extracts found that the department was “reckless” and had developed a “defensive culture” over immigration policy.” – The Times

• Labour MPs warn ministers not to water down Windrush review – The Guardian

Editorial:

• It is long past time for the Home Office to stop interfering – The Times

Home Office 4) Carlaw under pressure to pick a fight on immigration

“Jackson Carlaw must demonstrate he has “clout” with the Prime Minister by getting the UK Government’s immigration proposals changed, senior Scottish Tories have warned. In what was framed as an early test of Mr Carlaw’s leadership of the party, insiders argued that he must win concessions over the blueprint to drastically cut back on “unskilled” migration. Mr Carlaw was said to be “spitting tacks” about the the points-based plan, which farmers, the tourism industry and seafood processors have warned poses a major threat to their sectors. He and other senior Scottish Tory MSPs were understood to be extremely frustrated that no one in the Scotland Office was available to publicly explain the policy when it was unveiled on Wednesday, giving the Nationalists a free run to attack it unchallenged.” – Daily Telegraph

• Immigration rules post-Brexit could fuel modern slavery, say charities – The Guardian

Comment:

• Inflexibility on immigration could hurt the UK’s prospects – Bronwen Maddox, FT
• Racist narratives flourish when liberals ignore anxiety about change – Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph

Johnson’s foreign policy, defence and security review ‘in turmoil’, say insiders

“Boris Johnson’s sweeping foreign policy, defence and security review is at risk of unravelling before it has begun, sources have said. The prime minister announced plans during the election to conduct the most comprehensive review of the UK’s defence capabilities since the Cold War. Disagreements have broken out over appointments to key panels and timetables, however… A government source said that there was consternation about a series of “has-beens” who had been appointed to the review. Insiders believe Dominic Cummings was behind the departure of Christopher Brannigan, the defence lead in the No 10 policy unit, last week.” – The Times

• Tory MPs warn Government not to force through Huawei law ‘on the sly’ – Daily Telegraph
• Spads should ‘toughen up’, says Cummings – The Times

>Yesterday: Martin Parsons in Comment: A US deal with the Taliban would be worse than Obama’s nuclear deal Continue to all today’s Newslinks