In a bold move signalling his intent for government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is plotting a comprehensive overhaul of the Home Office, aiming to fundamentally reset its culture and priorities. The plans, described as a "root and branch" reform, seek to dismantle the department's controversial "hostile environment" approach and restore its public service ethos.
The proposed reset is a direct response to what Labour views as years of failure and mismanagement under successive Conservative ministers. The party believes the department has become dangerously politicised and is failing in its core duties, from processing asylum claims to ensuring national security.
Clearing the Backlog and Restoring Order
A central pillar of Starmer's strategy is the urgent need to tackle the massive asylum backlog, a symbol of the current system's breakdown. Labour has pledged to create a new Returns and Enforcement Unit, specifically tasked with speeding up the removal of individuals who have no right to remain in the UK. This unit would work alongside a newly established Border Security Command, focusing on dismantling the criminal smuggling gangs exploiting vulnerable people.
This two-pronged approach is designed to be both efficient and humane, contrasting sharply with the government's stalled Rwanda scheme, which Labour has vowed to scrap.
A New Culture for the Home Office
Beyond policy changes, Starmer's vision is for a profound cultural shift within the Home Office itself. The aim is to move the department away from the "gimmicks and rhetoric" that have characterised recent years and towards a focus on competence, fairness, and effective delivery.
This internal reset would involve a review of all existing policies to ensure they align with the new mission: protecting the nation, supporting victims of crime, and upholding the rule of law without sacrificing basic decency.
The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, is expected to be a key architect of this transformation, drawing a clear line under the tenure of her predecessor, Suella Braverman. With the election looming, these plans position a potential Labour government as one ready to take immediate, decisive action to fix what it calls Britain's "broken" immigration system and restore integrity to a vital ministry.
