Border skirmishes

True, there is the potential embarrassment of Brodie Clark, the man who has resigned as head of the UK Border Force, having his say before the Home Affairs select committee tomorrow. But, with evidence from the UK Border Agency backing up the Home Secretary’s claim that Mr Clark authorised airport staff to go further than ministerial instruction allowed when relaxing security checks on non-EU passengers, things were starting to go Mrs May’s way.

Now, however, with the news that, for four years, coach passengers were allowed into the UK without being properly checked by border-security staff, the pressure on the Home Secretary can only increase. Indeed, these latest claims have the potential to be even more damaging for Mrs May, given that – far from being a simple case of a disobedient official – they point, yet again, to chaos and confusion being endemic at the heart of the Home Office.

There is, however, an even greater worry for the Government, namely that it is starting to give the impression of incompetence on the very issues that most affect voters’ perceptions of their own security and well-being.

With the fragile economy now being buffeted by forces beyond the Government’s control, and with the traditional Tory reputation for upholding law and order seriously damaged by this summer’s riots, Ministers cannot afford to give the impression that they have also lost control of immigration. Before there are any further damaging revelations, Mrs May needs to demonstrate that she in control not only of her own officials, but also of the country’s borders.