Home Office bigwigs have been caught taking home bumper pay rises and bonuses - just as the number of migrants crossing the Channel passed 50,000 under Labour.
Some of the department's most influential civil servants and top-ranking Border Force officials are earning salaries as high as £260,000 - almost seven times the median UK wage.
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Among the highest earners, according to the Home Office's annual report, were:
- Home Office Second Permanent Secretary Simon Ridley: £170,000-175,000 after a £5,000 pay rise;
- Border Force Director-General Philip Douglas: £140,000-145,000 after a £5,000 pay rise, plus £10,000-£15,000 bonuses;
- Director General of the Migration and Borders Group at the Home Office, Daniel Hobbs: £130,000-£135,000 after a £5,000 pay rise;
- Ex-Home Office Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft: £255,000-260,000 after a staggering £50,000 pay rise.
Home Office bigwigs have been caught taking home bumper pay rises and bonuses - just as the number of migrants crossing the Channel passed 50,000 under Labour
|PA
Since Labour's July 4 General Election victory last year, at least 50,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel alone - with thousands more arriving via other means.
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp - an ex-Home Office Minister - said the Labour-run Home Office was a "dismal failure".
However, one source in the department pointed out how "most" of the pay rises were set under the Conservatives.
Reform UK's Lee Anderson, meanwhile, told the Express: "If they were working in the private sector, they'd be sacked.
"They shouldn't be getting any rises or bonuses. They are failing."
MIGRANT CRISIS - READ MORE:
Chris Philp said the Labour-run Home Office was a 'dismal failure'
| GETTYThe Home Office annual report revealed: "Martin Hewitt is the highest-paid director for salary in 2024-25 but received no bonus, having started in the year.
"In 2023- 24, Sir Matthew Rycroft was the highest-paid director and received a bonus of £10,000. Sir Matthew was in post until March 28 2025 and received a bonus of £20-£25,000."
Centre for Migration Control founder Rob Bates, meanwhile, told GB News that Britain was on course to take in 50,000 illegal migrants this year alone - far higher than recent annual averages of around 30,000.
"I think we're now at the point that this is far exceeding even the worst years that we saw in 2022 and 2023," he told the People's Channel.
"We're about 40 per cent up when it comes to Channel crossings on last year, and we are probably going to see 50,000 people come across the English Channel."
Rob Bates has tipped Britain to beat its average and receive some 50,000 illegal migrants this year alone
| GB NEWSA Home Office source said: "The majority of these pay rises were set under the previous Tory Government, including when the Shadow Home Secretary was a Minister in the Home Office.
"Bonuses were set by a former Permanent Secretary who is no longer in the department. Home Office Ministers are not involved in setting or agreeing bonuses."
A spokesman for the department added: "Protecting our borders is the number one priority for all those working at the Home Office.
"Under this Government, the Home Office has secured returns agreements with France and Iraq, in addition to ramping up action to remove 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK - a 13 per cent increase from the same period last year.
"To continue achieving results for the British people, it is important we offer competitive salaries and bonuses to recruit and retain the best staff, whilst ensuring value for money for the taxpayer."