Sajid Javid is the new Home Secretary after Amber Rudd quits

Sajid Javid has been named as Home Secretary following Amber Rudd’s Sunday night resignation over her handling of the Windrush scandal.

The former Communities Secretary has taken on the role after Rudd gave in to pressure following a series of revelations about immigration removal targets.

She had initially denied that there were Home Office targets before revelations in the press forced her to U-turn and admit internal goals did exist.

Very sad that Amber is leaving Government. A huge talent that will no doubt be back in Cabinet soon, helping to strengthen our great nation

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) April 29, 2018

Deeply saddened at Amber Rudd’s resignation. Always enjoyed working with her. Thoughtful, principled, passionate and a thoroughly decent person. A big loss, but know she still has more to give in the future.

— James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) April 30, 2018

A letter to Theresa May outlining “ambitious, but deliverable” aims to deport 10 per cent of illegal immigrants, published by The Guardian on Sunday, led to Rudd calling it quits after admitting she “inadvertently misled” MPs.

Labour MP Jess Phillips told The Big Issue last week that Rudd should stay in her role, instead insisting that the blame for the Windrush scandal lies with the Prime Minister, who was Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016.

“I actually feel for Amber Rudd because she has had to clear up the mess that has been left by Theresa May,” said Phillips, who took to the streets of Birmingham on April 26 to experience life as a Big Issue vendor.

“She has inherited a Home Office with a culture of bullying and mistreating migrants and a system that is broken and corrupt.”

Rudd’s replacement, Javid, leaves behind the Housing, Communities & Local Government department where he had been leading the government’s work to tackle the housing crisis.

“We are going to have a strategy in place that actually does something the previous Home Secretary set out last week in her statement to Parliament about making sure we have an immigration policy that is fair and treats people with respect and with decency,” Javid said, following the announcement. “That will be one of my most urgent tasks, to make sure that we look carefully at the policy and make sure it achieves just that.

“I think for anyone to see their child grow and become Home Secretary, all parents would be really pleased with that. My parents came to our country in the 1960s from Pakistan to help build this country. I think for them to see one of their sons arise to this great office of State – I am sure they would be very proud.”

Speaking to The Big Issue last year, the Bromsgrove MP spoke of his plans to bring the Housing First approach that had proven successful in Finland to the UK in a bid to tackle homelessness.

Honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government. Looking forward to taking the Government’s agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs. @mhclg

— James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) April 30, 2018

Former Northern Ireland minister James Brokenshire will take over Javid’s old job while International Development Secretary will pick up the role of Minister for Equalities following Rudd’s departure.

A Downing Street statement said: “The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP as secretary of state for the home department.”