Immigration watchdog sacked after critical news stories

The home secretary has sacked the immigration watchdog after details of critical reports about the immigration system appeared in newspapers.

David Neal was behind details of a report critical of the visa system for care workers appearing in Monday's Times, sources close to him said.

He is quoted in another story in Tuesday's Daily Mail about security checks on private jets in airports.

Mr Neal's contract had been due to expire next month.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We have terminated the appointment of David Neal, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICBI), after he breached the terms of appointment and lost the confidence of the Home Secretary.

"The planned recruitment process for the next Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration is in progress."

Mr Neal is a former army officer who commanded a brigade of the Royal Military Police. His contract had been due to expire on 21 March.

The report about the social care system is understood to reflect Mr Neal's concern about the Home Office's oversight of compliance with the immigration rules by social care employers.

The Home office called it "disappointing" that Mr Neal had chosen to put what it called "misleading data" into the public domain.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This is total Tory chaos on borders and immigration.

"A series of Conservative home secretaries have sought to bury uncomfortable truths revealed by the chief inspector about our broken borders, and shockingly they are still sitting on 15 unpublished reports - stretching back to April last year."

"The Home Secretary must now publish those reports in full."

The government website lists fourteen ICIBI inspection reports that are awaiting publication.

Ms Cooper's office is understood to be including the inspector's annual report in the total.

BBC News has been unable to reach Mr Neal for comment.