The home secretary is one of the most senior and influential ministers in the UK government, and the holder of a Great Office of State. The home secretary's remit includes law enforcement in England and Wales, matters of national security, issues concerning immigration, and oversight of the Security Service (MI5).
The home secretary's exercise of these powers is dependent on the ongoing consent and agreement of the prime minister and the rest of the Cabinet, as required by the doctrine of Cabinet collective responsibility. The prime minister can overrule the home secretary's individual decisions. For example, Boris Johnson reportedly overruled home secretary Priti Patel on closing UK borders,[1][2] and Margaret Thatcher overruled home secretary Leon Brittan on parole for Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.[3] The prime minister can dismiss the home secretary.[4]
- ^ "Boris Johnson refuses to say why he overruled Priti Patel and kept UK borders open when pandemic started". The Independent. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Priti Patel says she wanted UK borders shut last March". The Guardian. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
Boris Johnson urged to explain why he apparently rejected home secretary's Covid advice.
- ^ "Thatcher overruled minister to keep Moors murderers locked up for life". The Guardian. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
Margaret Thatcher intervened to overrule the home secretary and ensure that the Moors murderers, Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, were never released from prison, Downing Street papers have revealed.
- ^ "Suella Braverman: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacks home secretary". BBC Newsround. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.