In a bold move signalling a dramatic shift in Britain's governmental machinery, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared his intention to break up the Home Office, the powerful ministry long criticised for its sprawling and often contradictory responsibilities.
The radical proposal, confirmed by a senior government source, would see the mammoth department dismantled. Its core functions would be redistributed, with a new dedicated department created specifically to handle the UK's border security and immigration system—a major flashpoint in British politics.
A Department "Not Fit for Purpose"
The decision stems from a long-held belief within the Labour Party that the Home Office's structure is fundamentally flawed. By combining sensitive issues like policing and terrorism with the deeply contentious portfolio of immigration, the department has often been accused of failing to master either.
Sir Keir's government believes that creating a standalone, specialist body is the only way to deliver the "major, major reform" needed to fix the UK's broken immigration system and secure the nation's borders effectively.
Angela Eagle to Lead the Charge
To spearhead this monumental task, Sir Keir has appointed seasoned Labour MP Angela Eagle as the new Minister for the Cabinet Office. Her crucial brief will be to conduct a full-scale, root-and-branch review of the entire structure of Whitehall.
This review will formally recommend the dissolution of the Home Office as we know it. Ms. Eagle's extensive experience in government is seen as essential for navigating the complex political and bureaucratic challenges that such a seismic change will inevitably create.
The End of an Era
The potential abolition of the Home Office marks the end of an era for one of Britain's oldest and most powerful ministries, originally formed in 1782. The move is being framed as a necessary modernisation, ditching outdated structures to create a government that is more efficient, focused, and capable of addressing the specific challenges of the 21st century.
This announcement sets the stage for the biggest Whitehall reorganisation in a generation, demonstrating the new Prime Minister's commitment to a fundamental reset of how the British state is run.
