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As it happenedended

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Amber Rudd resigns - as it happened: Sajid Javid appointed new home secretary

Home secretary steps down after increasing pressure over handling of Windrush scandal

Samuel Osborne,Ashley Cowburn

Monday 30 April 2018 07:11 BST

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Sajid Javid appointed as Home Secretary

Sajid Javid has made his debut in Parliament as the new home secretary following the resignation of Amber Rudd.

As he arrived at the Home Office to take up new his job earlier in the day, Mr Javid vowed to make sure people caught up in the Windrush scandal are treated with “decency and fairness”.

Ms Rudd became the fifth departure from the cabinet since last year’s snap general election after admitting she had “inadvertently” misled MPs over the existence of targets for removing illegal immigrants.

The MP for Hastings and Rye stepped down on Sunday evening, a day before she was due to make a statement in the House of Commons on the targets and illegal migration, as she faced increasing pressure over the handling of the Windrush fiasco.

Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

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1/15Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I can’t face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice."

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats.

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Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK

Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948.

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Here's John Rentoul on the real reason Amber Rudd resigned:

Amber Rudd was brought down by her inexperience – not by WindrushAmber Rudd could have survived the Windrush scandal. She didn’t resign because she mishandled it. On the contrary, although she had been slow to realise that it was a problem, she was getting to grips with it. She had set up a unit that was working its way through the cases to confirm the right to be in the UK of the Windrush generation and their children.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 09:27

Theresa May did not know about deportation targets which brought down Amber Rudd, Chris Grayling suggestsTheresa May did not know about the deportation targets for illegal immigrants which brought down Amber Rudd, a Cabinet colleague has suggested. Chris Grayling sought to deflect Labour demands for the prime minister to set out her knowledge of the controversy – and whether she knew the departing home secretary had misled parliament. The transport secretary said Ms May would not – as Labour wants – take Ms Rudd’s place in the Commons later today to answer questions in her place.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 09:44

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg has speculated about who could replace Ms Rudd on Twitter.

Here is the start of her thread:

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:02

Sky's Faisal Islam has tweeted to say a new home secretary is "expected imminently."

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:05

Sajid Javid will replace Amber Rudd as home secretary, Downing Street has announced.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:19

↵

Sajid Javid appointed as new home secretarySajid Javid has been appointed the new home secretary, as Theresa May moved quickly to ease the turmoil provoked by the resignation of Amber Rudd. The choice means the post will again be held by a Remain supporter – although the housing secretary, unlike Ms Rudd, had not been a recent vocal champion for a softer Brexit.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:26

James Brokenshire will become the new secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, No 10 added.

Also, it said Penny Mordaunt will become minister for women and equalities, in addition to her role as international development secretary.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:29

↵Mr Brokenshire has said he is "honoured" at the appointment.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:37

↵Ms Mordaunt said she is "delighted" to have the additional brief as minister for women and equalities, and thanked Ms Rudd "for all she did in this role."

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:41

When Sajid Javid was appointed by Theresa May over the phone, he became the first home secretary from an ethnic minority background.

His previous role as secretary of state for housing, communities and local government will go to James Brokenshire.

Mr Brokenshire, the former Northern Ireland secretary, recently returned to Westminister following treatment for cancer.

Mr Javid made no comment on his appointment as home secretary as he emerged from 10 Downing Street after being briefed by officials.

The 48-year-old's first task will be to take some of the political heat out of the scandal which has seen people from a Caribbean background denied access to benefits and healthcare or threatened with deportation despite decades of residence in the UK.

Samuel Osborne30 April 2018 10:53

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