Watchdog Fired by Home Office for Exposing Border Security and Immigration Concerns
David Neal expressed his concerns about visa abuse in the care industry and the inadequacy of the asylum estate to newspapers. He claimed the Home Office lacked an asylum accommodation strategy.
The Home Office terminated its contract with David Neal, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, after he shared confidential information with the press, breaching the terms of his employment.
Mr. Neal had provided interviews revealing findings from unpublished reports submitted to the Home Office, including visa rules abuse by care workers and the alleged failure to check “high-risk” jet arrivals at a UK airport.
The home office spokesperson stated that Mr. Neal’s breach of appointment terms and the loss of confidence in him led to his termination. The recruitment process for the next independent chief inspector of borders and immigration is in progress.
Mr. Neal, who was appointed in March 2021, was originally due to end his tenure on Mar. 21, 2024. He had raised concerns about the slow publishing of his reports and the lack of a second contract term.
Former Watchdog Claimed Reports Went Unpublished
Prior to being fired, Mr. Neal held interviews with three newspapers, sharing content from unpublished reports sent to the Home Office, citing “massive public interest” in the material as his reason for sharing the information.
Home Office ‘Categorically Rejects’ Claims ’High-Risk’ Arrivals Went Unchecked
The claims made in the Daily Mail article prompted Tom Pursglove, the minister for legal migration and the border, to state on Tuesday in the Commons chamber that the Home Office “categorically rejects the claims” made by Mr. Neal.
Addressing the allegations in greater detail, the minister continued, “Border Force performs checks on 100 percent of scheduled passengers arriving in the UK and risk-based intelligence-led checks on general aviation.”
Mr. Neal’s report on general aviation border checks at London City airport was submitted last week after undergoing fact-checking, as is standard practice. Mr. Pursglove stated that Mr. Neal’s information leaked to a national newspaper before the Home Office had the chance to respond had no basis in fact.
Government Promises to Publish Delayed Reports
On Wednesday, Mr. Cleverly promised that the government would publish the delayed reports prepared by the former borders and immigration watchdog, but did not set a deadline.
In a written statement to Parliament the home secretary said his department was “committed to publishing the reports” and would “provide responses in due course.”
The 15 reports date back to April 2023.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called on Mr. Cleverly to publish the reports in full “now.”
Ms. Cooper claimed that successive Conservative home secretaries have “sought to bury uncomfortable truths revealed by the chief inspector about our broken borders.”
“The Conservatives have lost control of our borders, are seeking to hide the truth, and are putting border security at risk,” she added.
On finding a replacement for Mr. Neal, the home secretary said the recruitment process was “in progress,” and a new chief inspector of borders and immigration would be appointed after a “robust competition.”
PA Media contributed to this report.
