Pak-origin MP Sajid Javid appointed new UK home secretary

Pakistani-origin MP Sajid Javid was today appointed as Britain's new Home Secretary to replace Amber Rudd, who resigned after admitting that she had "inadvertently misled" Parliament over the existence of deportation targets for illegal immigrants.

Javid, the son of a Pakistani bus driver whose family migrated to Britain in the 1960s, was promoted from his Cabinet post of Communities, Local Government and Housing minister.

The 48-year-old former investment banker becomes the first South Asian origin MP to hold the key portfolio in the UK Cabinet.

After his appointment, Javid vowed to review the country's immigration policy to make sure it was fair and people were treated with "dignity and respect".

"The most urgent task I have is to help those British citizens that came from the Caribbean, the so-called Windrush generation, and make sure that they are all treated with the decency and the fairness that they deserve. I think that's what people want to see," said Javid, whose parents were born in pre-Partition India before migrating to Pakistan and then to the UK in the 1960s.

Javid is the Conservative party MP for Bromsgrove since 2010 and has previously held business and culture portfolios in the UK government.

"The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of...Sajid Javid MP as secretary of state for the home department," a Downing Street statement said.

Theresa May, who served as UK home secretary for many years before taking charge as the British Prime Minister in July 2016, has faced severe criticism over the dispute around the UK Home Office setting targets for enforced removals of illegal migrants.

Asked if she should take some personal responsibility for 52-year-old Rudd's resignation, May said today: "When I was home secretary, yes, there were targets in terms of removing people from the country who were here illegally.

"If you talk to members of the public they want to ensure we are dealing with people who are here illegally."
In Rudd, Prime Minister May lost a close ally in the Cabinet and said she was "very sorry" to see her go, adding: "I think she can look back with pride as home secretary."