Opinion
Javid has an almighty task on his hands – before he even gets to Brexit
New home secretary Sajid Javid Photo: PA / Yui Mok - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Losing Amber Rudd from the Brexit war cabinet is a blow to the Remain cause.
She was perhaps the only truly sensible voice on Brexit that carried real weight around the cabinet table aside from the chancellor.
Sajid Javid campaigned for Remain but he is unlikely to square up to the Brexiteers inside government in the way Rudd did. Hopefully Rudd will not go quietly to the backbenchers. If she teams up with Nicky Morgan and the other members of the Tory awkward squad she could be the antidote to Rees-Mogg's poison.
Beyond Brexit Javid arrives at the Home Office with an in-tray overflowing in the wake of a spike in violent crimes – especially in a capital gripped by gang violence – and the continuing fallout from the Windrush scandal.
First on his 'to do' list will be to placate the Windrush generation and bat away damaging claims that the 'hostile environment' created by Theresa May when she was home secretary means turfing out anyone who can't trace their ancestry back to the Battle of Hastings. It won't be easy.
You may also want to watch:
This year has seen a deadly spate of murders on London's streets. And across the nation police recorded rises in knife attacks last year. Battling that and the fear of violence among the public is a huge task – especially if he will have to continue with the line that a reduction in front-line police officers has not had a negative impact.
And then there is Brexit. Recent events have prompted questions about whether the Home Office can manage the vast bureaucratic exercise associated with Britain's departure from the European Union.
Most Read
- 1 Russell Kane: Why working class people like Boris Johnson
- 2 BBC journalist admits being 'haunted' by fear broadcaster 'built up' Nigel Farage and UKIP
- 3 Welsh government takes Westminster to court over post-Brexit bill
- 4 Boris Johnson proposes saving United Kingdom with 'Project Love' plan
- 5 Prosecution threat for Tories' co-chairman
- 6 The only Brexit export boom is from UK businesses rushing to Europe
- 7 No plans for EU membership vote in independent Scotland, says Sturgeon
- 8 Scientist tells Boris Johnson to cancel India trip over new variant fears
- 9 Brussels insists Northern Ireland Brexit protocol must remain in place
- 10 EU president faces fresh calls to resign over 'disastrous' Covid vaccine programme
Later this year, the process of assigning status to more than three million EU nationals living in the UK will begin, while the department will be responsible for implementing whatever new immigration system is brought in at the end of the implementation period in 2020.
Good luck Mr Javid – you are going to need it.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.