May takes some hits, but looks safe for now

David Cameron provided a reassuring presence for the Home Secretary today, sitting supportively next to her throughout her statement and Yvette Cooper’s response. May, who didn’t sound or look like someone who thinks their career is in danger, stressed that she “did not give my consent or authorisation to any of these actions”. But she had to concede that we’ll never know how many people came in who shouldn’t have because of the relaxation of checks on those arriving in this country.

In an aggressive reply, Yvette Cooper demanded that the various inquiries May has set up report much earlier than the New Year. She also said that she had been warned by UKBA staff that the shredders were running there and that there was a ban on internal email.  Cooper, who would have no hesitation in scalping any Tory, finished by telling the Home Secretary “she needs to get a grip and stop passing the buck”.