Residence Workplace chief awarded knighthood in New 12 months Honours

The top of the Residence Workplace has been given a knighthood following a tumultuous yr for the division.

Everlasting secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft was amongst a number of civil servants named within the New 12 months Honours, together with officers from Border Power and a Residence Workplace authorized adviser.

He was made a knight commander for “companies to British diplomacy, growth and home coverage”, following a decades-long profession together with posts on the Division for Worldwide Improvement, International Workplace and because the UK’s consultant to the United Nations.

Sir Matthew grew to become the chief civil servant on the Residence Workplace in March 2020, following the resignation of predecessor Sir Philip Rutnam over alleged bullying by Priti Patel.

He has remained within the put up by two stints within the put up by Suella Braverman and an interim interval the place Grant Shapps was residence secretary for six days – the shortest tenure in historical past.

Sir Matthew has been charged with the implementation of insurance policies aiming to cut back small boat crossings within the English Channel, which broke data in 2022 because the backlog of asylum functions being thought of by the Residence Workplace hit an all-time excessive.

Measures hoped to discourage crossings embrace the Rwanda deal, which Sir Matthew refused to log out with out a uncommon ministerial course.

In a letter to the previous residence secretary, he mentioned proof that the coverage would deter small boat crossings was “extremely unsure and can’t be quantified with adequate certainty to offer me with the mandatory stage of assurance over worth for cash”.

Sir Matthew mentioned receiving the knighthood was the “honour of my life” and expressed gratitude to his household, associates and colleagues.

“In over 30 years as a public servant, I’ve been lucky sufficient to work alongside many many superb individuals who have devoted their very own lives to bettering the lives of others,” he added.

“So this award is not only for me. It’s for the numerous public servants who’re doing an excellent job, typically unsung, behind the scenes, with little credit score. Thanks.”

A number of different Residence Workplace civil servants have been embellished within the honours, that are awarded within the title of King Charles III on the recommendation of the Cupboard Workplace.

Residence Workplace authorized adviser Rashid Begum was made an OBE for public service. Her LinkedIn web page describes her as a survivor of honour-based violence and mentioned she was “working in a excessive profile delicate space of central authorities”.

Nicola Percival, a civil servant in “venture supply, borders and enforcement”, was made an MBE for public service.

Border Power officer Stephen Windsor was awarded the identical honour, as was Steven Tennet, from the Border Power “freight intensification crew”.

The Residence Workplace’s former “well being and wellbeing lead”, Jack Summers, was embellished for companies to psychological well being.

He was beforehand nominated for the Civil Service Awards, with the web site saying that he had developed proposals to enhance the working lives of Immigration Enforcement employees.

The record was revealed following a strike by Border Power employees in passport management at a number of main airports, which noticed navy personnel drafted in to cowl their roles in the course of the busy Christmas journey interval.