Home Office: The Self-Preservation Society?

John Reid and associated cronies are briefing about the plans to split the Home Office into two.

Presumably the Senior Civil Servant in the Home Office will transfer to one or other of the new Departments. Will he also have a salary reduction because of the lesser level of responsibility, or will a new post at the same grade be created in each new office? I was a Civil Servant for 14 years, I know what I think.

Whilst splitting the Home Office has been muted before, I have my suspicions as to whether the recent briefings are about what is right for the Country or right for the Home Secretary. Dr Reid is seeing the possibility that he will be forced out of office if failings keep emerging, blowing his chances of becoming the next PM. Splitting the department inevitably means that future scandals can be justified using the "need to time to settle" argument. That settling in time will give Dr Reid until beyond the probable date of Blair's departure.