Should the Home Office be broken up into two units?

The UK's Home Office, once again facing calls for radical reform, has been plagued by inefficiencies and poor morale for nearly two decades. Critics argue that the department is too bloated, with over 50,000 civil servants, making it unwieldy and unmanageable.

One former insider described the problem as "not that the Home Office is too big, but rather that the brains of those running it are not big enough." The department's history of scandals, including the Windrush and immigration centre abuse crises, has sparked calls for a complete overhaul.

The idea of splitting the Home Office into two separate units - one handling crime, policing and security, and another overseeing borders and immigration - has been floated by politicians such as Karen Bradley, chair of the home affairs committee. However, some experts argue that this would merely relocate problems rather than addressing their root causes.

Former Home Office aide Nick Timothy has suggested that improving leadership and culture within the department would be a more effective use of resources than reorganizing it. He identified issues such as poor management, a "culture of defeatism", and inadequate communication between officials as key problems requiring attention.

The new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has acknowledged the need for reform and described Timothy's report as "damning." However, experts like Heloise Dunlop, a researcher at the Institute for Government, caution that systemic change may be more complex than simply reorganizing the department. They argue that many of the Home Office's problems are deeply ingrained and require a fundamental shift in approach rather than just restructuring.

As pressure mounts from both right and left on the government to address asylum and migration issues, it remains to be seen whether Mahmood will attempt a long-term transformation of the department or continue to battle fires within its current structure.

I'm telling you, the Home Office is like trying to hold together a giant Lego tower - it's just waiting for one bad move and it all comes crashing down . I mean, 50,000 civil servants? That's like, a whole army of people trying to make decisions about who gets in and out of this country. It's gotta be crazy. And don't even get me started on the morale - poor management, defeatist vibes... it's no wonder they're plagued by scandals.

I think Nick Timothy hit the nail on the head with his report. Leadership and culture are everything, you know? If you've got a bunch of officials who aren't communicating properly or just giving up, that's not gonna solve anything. It's like trying to fix a leaky faucet with duct tape - it might hold for a bit, but eventually it's still gonna be broken.

The idea of splitting the Home Office into two units sounds like a Band-Aid solution to me. I mean, what if they just move the problems around instead of actually fixing them? And with the asylum and migration issues still burning, I don't know how much more time Mahmood has before she's gotta try something new. Maybe it's time for a complete overhaul - not just restructuring, but fundamentally changing the way the department works

"Change is not about finding yourself lost in an endless desert of uncertainty; it's about finding your path while standing on shifting sand... Sometimes you have to let go of the need for control and allow things to unfold like a lotus flower blooming in the night "

Ugh the Home Office is literally a disaster waiting to happen with over 50k civil servants, that's just insane! And now they want to split it into two units? Good luck with that , it's gonna be a mess! Nick Timothy's report was spot on tho, leadership and culture issues need to be addressed ASAP . It's like, come on government, get your act together already! the Windrush scandal is still fresh in our minds, how can they just ignore that? I'm keeping an eye on Shabana Mahmood tho, if she doesn't deliver, there'll be hell to pay

omg u guyz! i think tht home office r bldn 2 big 4 its own good lol, 50k+ civ servnts is alot 2 man 1 dept idk wut's wrng wit all dese scandals tho... windrush & immigration centres? dat's wicked & it feels like tht they just r shifting probs arond instea of fixin thm timothy's report sounds legit tho, need 2 improve leadership n culture within th dept ASAP mahmood's tryna make sum changes but wud b diff 4 it 2 b jus reorgizin or changein th way dey rthinkin bout asylum & migration probs dunlop's pointz r good 2, probs r deep rdt nd need systemic change tho

I mean, come on, 50k civil servants is like, way too many! It's hard to see how having more people doesn't just create more problems You'd think that with all those brains, they could figure out a way to make it work without being so bloated. And the scandals, ugh... Windrush and immigration centre abuse crises? That's not exactly something you want to look back on and be proud of

I'm not sure splitting it into two separate units is the answer either I mean, if they just move the problems around, what's really gonna change? And Nick Timothy's idea about improving leadership and culture seems like a good one... maybe that's where the real solution lies But we'll see how Shabana Mahmood decides to tackle this. Fingers crossed she's got some solid plans

I'm like, totally stoked that Shabana Mahmood is acknowledging the need for reform at the Home Office! The fact that they're talking about splitting the department into two units makes total sense to me - it's all about addressing specific problems and being more efficient. But, gotta agree with Nick Timothy on one thing: leadership and culture are everything! If they can get those things right, I'm sure they'll be able to tackle some of the deeper issues. The thing that really concerns me is how complex systemic change can be - I've seen it happen in other industries, like tech, where you have to totally rethink your approach and invest in new skills. Fingers crossed that Mahmood's got a solid plan in place!

I mean, can you believe this? The Home Office has been a disaster for years and it's still not getting the attention it needs . I'm all for reform, but just splitting it into two separate units won't fix the problems at their root. We need real change, like improving leadership and addressing those cultural issues that Nick Timothy highlighted . It's not about throwing more people at the problem, it's about making sure everyone is working together effectively . And let's be real, 50k civil servants is a bloated workforce if you ask me . Shabana Mahmood needs to take bold action and not just pay lip service to reform . We need a fundamental shift in how the Home Office operates, not just some cosmetic changes .

im not sure about this new home secretary thing, sounds like more of the same old problems just masked by different faces . 50k civil servants is crazy, feels like the UK's got too many bureaucratic layers for its own good. reforming the Home Office would be a good start, but we need to think bigger - what are the underlying issues that keep causing these scandals and inefficiencies?

splitting it into two separate units might sound like a simple fix, but experts say that just relocates problems rather than addressing the root causes. and let's be real, reforming the Home Office is no easy feat, there's gotta be a fundamental shift in approach, not just a reorg .

i hope shabana mahmood can deliver on her promises, but we need to see some real change, not just empty words .

I think this is a no-brainer - the Home Office needs a total overhaul . 50k civil servants is just crazy , and with all the scandals that have happened, it's time for some serious change . Splitting it into two units sounds like a good idea, but let's be real, it'll just move the problems around . What we really need is for the government to take a long, hard look at how they're managing things and make some actual changes . Leadership and culture are key , and if they can get that sorted, maybe the department will finally start to run smoothly . I'm keeping an eye on Shabana Mahmood - fingers crossed she'll make a real difference

50k civil servants at the Home Office feels like way too many people for one team. What's the logic behind keeping so much bureaucracy? It's not about being too big or small, it's about efficiency and effectiveness. Need to find a balance between having enough hands to get things done and not getting bogged down in red tape.

omg i totally feel like the home office is a hot mess express i mean who needs that many civil servants? 50k+ people can't all be working on immigration issues alone and it's just not adding up with all those scandals they've been dealing with. splitting it into two separate units sounds kinda appealing tho maybe if they focused on policing and security one part, and borders/immigration another that would be a good start? but i'm all for improving leadership and culture too - like, you can't fix the problems without fixing the people who run it first #HomeOfficeReform #LeadershipMatters #GovernmentEfficiency

I don’t usually comment but I think the Home Office is like a never-ending soap opera . Like, you gotta wonder how things got so bad in just two decades. The idea of splitting it into two units sounds interesting, but at the same time, I don't know if that's gonna solve anything. It's all about addressing those root causes, right?

I mean, have you seen the reports coming out from Nick Timothy? Poor management, culture of defeatism... it's like they're speaking straight to the heart of the issue . But at the same time, I'm not sure if just shuffling things around is gonna fix it.

It'll be interesting to see how Shabana Mahmood navigates this whole thing. She seems like a strong leader, but reformed departments don't come easily . Fingers crossed that she finds a way to turn things around before it's too late

I feel so bad for all those ppl stuck in that system, 50k civil servants is crazy! I think improving leadership & culture would def be a great start, but then again, if the problems run too deep, just reorging might not cut it... like my grandma used to say "if you're trying to fix a leaky roof with duct tape"...

come on, let's not overcomplicate this - splitting the Home Office into two separate units sounds like a decent idea to me , who needs more bureaucracy when you can just have two smaller ones? and yeah, leadership issues are a big part of the problem too, nick timothy's report was spot on about that

I gotta say, reforming the Home Office is like trying to fix a leaky boat with patches . They keep talking about splitting it into two units, but honestly, that's just gonna move the problems around. What they really need to do is tackle the root issues – bad leadership and a toxic culture . Nick Timothy's report was spot on, and I think Shabana Mahmood should listen more to his advice than just nodding at it . The problem ain't the department being too big or small, it's just that the people running it are out of touch . We need real change, not just a PR stunt to placate politicians .

Ugh I mean, come on 50k civil servants in one place? That's just crazy! Back in my day we didn't have all these layers and bureaucracies. It was simple, get the job done and move on. And don't even get me started on all these scandals they've had over the years... Windrush crisis? Immigration centre abuse? That's some serious stuff.

I think splitting it into two units might sound good on paper, but at the end of the day it's just gonna be more of the same. They'll just find a way to make both units as dysfunctional as each other. And what really gets me is that they're still stuck on improving leadership and culture within the department instead of actually fixing the problems. I mean, if you change the management team, does that really fix everything?

omg i feel like they're so stuck in the past they need to bring in fresh blood and new ideas to revamp the whole system! I mean, 50k civil servants is like, way too many it's like trying to herd cats or something... and yeah, scandals happen but you gotta think about the bigger picture. splitting it into two units sounds like a good start tho but idk if that'll actually fix anything. Nick Timothy's report makes total sense tho - leadership and culture issues are so crucial and Mahmood needs to focus on that ASAP. can't wait to see what she comes up with next

I gotta say, 50k civil servants is a lot ! It's like they're trying to cover every single eventuality . I mean, can't they just focus on what really matters? The whole thing seems so bloated .

And yeah, leadership issues are a big part of it too . You gotta have people who are actually good at managing and communicating stuff to make it work. It's not rocket science , but apparently, they need someone like Nick Timothy to point that out .

I'm curious, do you think the government should just reorganize everything or try to fix the underlying problems? I mean, splitting it into two separate units might be a good idea, but is it gonna solve all their issues?

I THINK THE HOME OFFICE IS LIKE A BIG OL' FAMILY THAT'S JUST TOO CLUMSY TO RUN EFFECTIVELY . WITH ALL THOSE CIVIL SERVANTS, IT'S LIKE TRYING TO MANAGE A HUGE TEAM SPORTS GAME WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE DOING . WE NEED SOMEONE TO COME IN AND GIVE THEM A FRESH PERSPECTIVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SYSTEMIC CHANGE IS HARD WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH DEEP-ROOTED ISSUES .