Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e
Political commentary
Essay questionsKavanagh et al: British Politics 5e
Another Home Secretary Bites the Dust? John Reid and the problems of the Home Office
The beginning of 2007 saw Home Secretary John Reid in a position familiar to that of many of his predecessors in the post. Increasingly described as 'embattled' by the more serious newspapers, The Sun issued the rather less subtle proclamation that "John Reid's brain is missing" following his call to judges to exhibit more restraint in issuing custodial sentences for minor offences.
With prisons full to capacity and prisoners being reportedly housed in police cells, Reid's call led one judge to issue a suspended sentence to a man convicted of downloading child pornography while another freed a convicted sex offender ahead of sentencing on bail. Meanwhile Rod Morgan, chairman of the Youth Justice Board resigned in protest at the increase in young offenders in custody.
These events proved to be the culmination of a series of problems that emerged throughout January. It was revealed that the Identity and Passport Service had failed to enforce overseas travel bans on 147 convicted drugs traffickers. The News of the World also discovered that the police have lost track of 322 convicted sex offenders.
Upon his appointment as Home Secretary, John Reid lost no time in alleging that parts of the Home Office were not 'fit for purpose'. It also emerged this month that he proposes to split the Home Office into two separate departments – one dealing with security, anti-terrorism and immigration while the other would deal with issues relating to justice, including prisons and the probation service.
Reid's troubles and his proposed solution illustrate a number of aspects of crime and justice policy in the UK political system more generally. Firstly, there has been keen interest in these problems from both media and political parties, demonstrating the salience of crime and criminal justice as political issues. Secondly, these difficulties lend credence to claims that the Home Office is a unique department of state – one in which crises can quickly engulf even the most capable office holders. Thirdly, the plan to split the Home Office demonstrates the ease with which the British State is reconfigured. Fourthly, Reid's troubles have led some to consider the possibility that Reid's troubles have been engineered by his past antagonistic approach towards civil servants and judges.
Finally, Reid has claimed that he will not quit and that the job of reforming the Home Office will take a further two years. A number of commentators have drawn their own inferences from this. After his bravura performance at the 2006 Labour Party conference, which was interpreted by some as a marker for a future leadership challenge, have the problems of the Home Office put pay to Reid's purported leadership ambitions at the least? Will he ultimately be forced to follow his predecessor, Charles Clarke, in a short tenure as Home Secretary followed by resignation?
Critical thinking questions
1) Thinking about the doctrine of ministerial responsibility, do you think John Reid should resign?
2) What factors do you think will determine whether John Reid will survive as Home Secretary or whether he will be forced to resign?
3) How has Reid approached the task of Home Secretary since his appointment in May 2006? How would you characterise him according to the typologies of ministerial roles discussed in Chapter 12 of the textbook?
4) Do you think it is plausible that John Reid's difficulties have been engineered or compounded by civil servants and judges whom he has antagonised in the past? Are there historical precedents for such behaviour on behalf of civil servants and judges?
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