Home Office meltdown: disgrace

John Reid's announcing that the Home Office is "not fit for purpose". After nine years of Labour Government whose fault is that? Whilst John Reid's frankness and apparent willingness to square up to the civil service (the Cabinet Secretary ruled out jobs being at risk after all the calamities - Reid told MPs not to bet on it) is to be applauded, how his Government can retain any credibility at all is quite beyond me.

There can only be one person who has to be responsible for what appears to be the complete meltdown of a vital Government department. That's the Prime Minister. The juicy irony is that if Reid can live up to his rhetoric and at least give the Home Office a semblance of professionalism he will surely be doing himself great favours when it comes to any race to replace that same PM. Hearing of his committed approach I have to admit I even find myself warming to him. I'm sure the same can't be said of Gordon Brown's response.

In the meantime, Blair, Straw, Blunkett, Clarke: j'accuse.