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Fury as government official who oversaw Windrush scandal named in Queen's honours list

Fury as government official who oversaw Windrush scandal named in Queen's honours list
PA Wire

The public has been quick to express outrage after it emerged a key player in the Home Office during the Windrush scandal and creation of the “hostile environment” has been included on the Queen’s birthday honours list this year.

Glyn Williams, head of migration policy at the Home Office from 2010 to 2013 and current director general for border, immigration and citizenship, was appointed companion of the order of the Bath for “public service”.

Mr Williams was grilled by the home affairs committee alongside Amber Rudd last year over his involvement in the scandal, during which they claimed to have known nothing of internal targets for the number of deportations.

Ms Rudd was forced to resign as home secretary over the scandal, which saw hundreds of people of Carribean heritage wrongfully deported, threatened with removal or stripped of their benefits.

The announcement was made hours after Theresa May stepped down as prime minister.

As an outgoing prime minister, Mrs May was able to make certain recommendations to the Queen as to who should receive honours, as well as submitting to her the list compiled by the honours committee.

Mr Williams was one of a number of Mrs May’s allies to be listed – which drew calls of hypocrisy after she previously slammed David Cameron for filling the list with cronies.

Theresa May was home secretary from 2010 to 2016, during which time she famously said:

The aim is to create, here in Britain, a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants.

Nine other Home Office staff members have been awarded honours this year.

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