Border Force Head Quits Over Passport Row

The head of the UK border force has quit and declared he will sue the Government for constructive dismissal over claims he relaxed controls without permission.

Brodie Clark has also launched a scathing attack on Home Secretary Theresa May whom he accused of making his position "untenable".

In a statement Mr Clark denied "improperly" extending a relaxation of border controls as claimed by Mrs May.

The statement said: "I am anxious to take part in any independent inquiry into matters relating to UK Border Agency.

"But my position at UKBA had been made untenable because of the statements made in the House of Commons by Theresa May.

"Those statements are wrong and were made without the benefit of hearing my response to formal allegations."

The development will increase the pressure on Mrs May, who has insisted she will not resign over the issue.

She is expected to face more questions from MPs on Wednesday after Labour called an Opposition Day debate.

Earlier, Mrs May told MPs she had rejected Mr Clark's proposed changes in favour of a more limited pilot scheme, designed in part to reduce queues at airports.

But Mr Clark went further, scrapping key checks against a Home Office database without ministerial approval, she said.

"Those wider changes were ones which I rejected," she said.

Mrs May told the Home Affairs Committee that in setting out the terms for the pilot, "there were certain things that were suggested that I was not prepared to accept".

She said: "I take full responsibility for my decisions and actions related to the pilot, but Brodie Clark must take responsibility for his actions."

Three senior staff, including Mr Clark, have been suspended and those responsible will be punished "to make sure that border force officials can never take such risks with border security again", Mrs May said.

But in his statement - issued through the FDA union for senior civil servants - Mr Clark insisted: "The Home Secretary suggests that I added additional measures, improperly, to the trial of our risk-based controls. I did not. Those measures have been in place since 2008/09.

"The Home Secretary also implies that I relaxed the controls in favour of queue management. I did not. Despite pressure to reduce queues, including from ministers, I can never be accused of compromising security for convenience.

"This summer saw queues of over three hours (non EU) on a regular basis at Heathrow and I never once contemplated cutting our essential controls to ease the flow.

"On the trials, I have pressed since December 2010 to progress these and I was pleased when the Home Secretary agreed to the pilot arrangements.

"The evidence to support them is substantial and the early findings are encouraging.

"I would do nothing to jeopardise them and I firmly believe that a more fully risk-based way of operating will offer far greater protection to the United Kingdom."

He went on: "I deeply regret having to make this statement. I am saddened that my career should end in such a way after 40 years of dedicated service. My employer has disregarded my right to reply in favour of political convenience."

Mr Clark said he had been advised not to make any further comment until he appears before the Home Affairs Committee which earlier called him to give evidence.

His effective resignation means he can speak to the MPs without being subject to "ministerial instruction" as a civil servant.