Home Secretary in United Kingdom

Home Secretary in the History

The Home secretary is responsible for the internal affairs of England and Wales as well as immigration and citizenship across the United Kingdom. Kenneth Baker’s time as Home Secretary will be most remembered for him being the first serving minister to be in contempt of court – ‘the offence of being disobedient or disrespectful towards a court of law’ – because of his deportation of a man back to Zaire whilst he was still under court process. This did not lead to him losing his position before the 1992 General Election but he did resign after the election after refusing to be demoted to Welsh Secretary.

History of the Home Secretary

The following commentary about Home Secretary in the Churchill Era is produced by the Churchill College (Cambridge): Cabinet Minister in charge of the Home Office, and with responsibility for law and order, immigration and other domestic issues in England and Wales.