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Priti Patel resigns as UK home secretary following Truss' election
British Home Secretary Priti Patel on Monday (Sep 5) resigned her post hours after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was elected by Conservative Party members their new leader.
Truss will meet Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday (Sep 6) where she will be formally named prime minister and asked to form a new government. She will then announce the new Cabinet.
Local media report that Truss is likely to appoint Attorney General Suella Braverman the new home secretary.
In her resignation statement addressed to outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Patel wrote: "It has been the honor of my life to serve our country as home secretary for the last three years and to deliver on our commitments to back and reform our police, stand up for the hard-working law-abiding majority, reform our immigration and asylum system, and fight terrorism. Your support over this period has delivered an unparalleled package of reforms and investment."
Patel’s tenure as home secretary has been dominated by confronting the issue of illegal migration via small boats crossing the English Channel.
Patel continued: "It is vital that your successor backs all aspects of these policies on illegal migration to ensure the full implementation and delivery of the New Plan for Immigration and Nationality and Borders Act. As we know, there is no single solution to this huge challenge and the Government must tackle the full spectrum of issues to halt the illegal entry of migrants to the UK."
On Johnson’s successor, Patel wrote: "I congratulate Liz Truss on being elected our new leader, and will give her my support as our new prime minister.”
Priti Patel defends plans to send asylum seekers on one-way trip to Rwanda
She said she would choose to continue public service to the country and her Witham constituency, once Truss formally assumes office and a new home secretary is appointed.
"From the backbenches, I will champion many of the policies I have stood up for both inside and outside government,” she said.
Patel’s proposed immigration plan involved taking asylum seekers who illegally crossed the English Channel in small boats and deporting them to Rwanda, Central African, where their claims would be processed.
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