Home Office top boss awarded knighthood despite record numbers of crossings

THE top boss at the Home Office has been rewarded with a knighthood despite record numbers of illegal channel crossings.

Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft was handed the gong just as a record breaking 45,000 migrants made the perilous journey across the Channel.

And he also oversaw the bungling passport office which ruined summer holidays for thousands after failing to deal with a backlog in cases.

Tory MP Lee Anderson called on Sir Matthew to hand the award back until the migrant crisis was over.

He told The Sun: “The Home Office is in crisis.

“It is underperforming and he is one of the people responsible, and yet he has been granted one of the highest honours in the land.

“People are furious with people like him for failing to secure our borders and keep us safe.

“If he had an ounce of decency he would hand it back.” Two senior MPs who proved to be thorns in the side of Boris Johnson have also been recognised in the first New Year Honours list to be published since the former prime minister left No 10.

Tory Julian Lewis, who defied Boris Johnson to become chairman of the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), and Labour‘s Chris Bryant, who chairs the Commons Standards Committee, both receive knighthoods.

There is also an honour for former permanent secretary at the Treasury Sir Tom Scholar – Who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Earlier this year he was sacked by Liz Truss on her first day in office.

Cop26 president Alok Sharma is knighted, while Conservative former minister Andrew Stephenson, who was party co-chairman in Mr Johnson‘s caretaker cabinet over the summer, is made a CBE.

Ex-Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill – who was also sacked by Mr Johnson – was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.