Poisoned Chalice

Yet another very serious security lapse, this time in the House of Commons itself. A Brazilian illegal immigrant, who had absconded from Heathrow airport over three years ago, was found to be working as a cleaner in the House, using a security pass belonging to another person. Even worse, the breach, which was apparently detected and reported to the immigration minister, Liam Byrne, as long ago as 31 January, was confirmed only last night, when the Home Office was contacted by the Daily Telegraph, which had received leaked reports of the incident.

Coming so soon after last year’s scandal, when 11,000 illegal immigrants were found to be working in the security industry, this episode is bound to put further pressure on the hapless Jacqui Smith, the latest in a long line of cabinet ministers to regret drinking from the poisoned chalice that is the Home Office.

It is also very likely to provoke accustions of a cover-up. Indeed, it is noteworthy that the memo sent to Liam Byrne on 31 January describes the level of controversy as "high" and advises a "reactive" approach to the media, "given recent coverage of security guards employed illegally at Government offices".

A proactive approach, i.e. making a clean breast of the cock-up, would, I suppose, be too much to hope for.

Parliament is full of overseas cleaners; no doubt the Home Office, now the gaff has been blown, will be conducting an urgent audit to confirm their credentials.