Mahmood’s deportations chief job comes round again

One might be forgiven for thinking the National Returns Progression Command changes leaders with the seasons. The Home Office seeks a new head after the November 2024 appointment lasted less than two years. As Guido Fawkes reports, all is not well in His Majesty’s Home Department.

The post leads 500 staff and a £22 million budget to maximise returns of immigration offenders – illegal entrants, overstayers, failed asylum seekers – in a dignified manner with safeguards for vulnerabilities. It covers detained returns, asylum casework, non-detained progression and third country returns. Non-detained work progresses those without permission either by removing barriers to return or signposting them to regularise status. Tidy words for an untidy job.

Salary has climbed £10,000 above inflation to £96,000 from £86,000. Last week the deal to return small boat illegal migrants by plane to France collapsed. Shabana Mahmood’s department is therefore hunting fresh leadership just as one practical route home has fallen away.

High churn where removals are meant to happen raises an eyebrow. Process language and a fatter pay packet roll on while sending people back stays hard. Taking back control of the borders was rather the point. The vacancy notice goes up again and the merry-go-round keeps turning.