Outcry over Jeremy Corbyn aide Lord Kerslake’s ‘Nazi’ slur on PM Theresa May after Windrush Generation debacle

THE FORMER Head of the Civil Service sparked uproar after saying Theresa May’s immigration policies aped the Nazis.

Lord Kerslake, now an adviser to Jeremy Corbyn, said Mrs May’s approach as Home Secretary was regarded by some ministers in the Coalition as “almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany”.

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Insiders immediately claimed he was talking about Lib Dem officials – who were bitterly opposed to Mrs May’s ‘hostile environment’ crackdown on illegal immigrants in 2014.

The incendiary comments triggered an immediate backlash from Ministers reeling from the Windrush debacle over threats to deport Caribbean immigrants.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “I’ve never heard anyone make that comparison before Lord Kerslake.

“It’s not for me to criticise a distinguished former public servant like Lord Kerslake but I respectfully disagree.”

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James Cleverley, the Tory deputy chair told The Sun: “It’s inappropriate beyond belief to bring up such an atrocious time in human history in the way that Lord Kerslake has.”

But Labour’s Yvette Cooper – the head of the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee – stormed: “The idea you could have that kind of culture is deeply damaging.”

She signalled the Committee could call Theresa May to explain the chaos behind the Windrush affair.

The row came as the Home Office said the first four Windrush citizens to be seen by a new “dedicated” team had been given permanent status in the UK.

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But it revealed it was now reviewing a whopping 232 cases.

Lord Kerslake, a crossbench – or neutral – peer in the Lords, served as the Head of the Civil Service from 2012 to 2015. He was dubbed ‘Bungalow Bob’ by David Cameron’s inner circle – for “not having much upstairs”. Pals say that has fuelled his anger towards the Conservative Party ever since.

Last October he was appointed to advise Labour on preparing for Government. He insisted Jeremy Corbyn’s hard left ideas were “not unusual” and common on the Continent.

He was booted off the King’s NHS Trust in December after a bitter dispute over its woeful finances. The bitter row came with the Government under fire for a fourth consecutive day over the Windrush debacle.

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A senior Tory said the Home Office was “highly culpable” for the disastrous handling of the affair.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd met Caribbean leaders at the Commonwealth Summit today – 24 hours after the Mum who called for Mrs May to resign following the death of her son.

The son, Dexter Bristol, died suddenly in March aged 57 after a year spent trying to prove he wasn’t an illegal immigrant.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott met with Windrush immigrants in Parliament on Thursday 19 April (5pm).

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Lib Dem chief Nick Clegg said Theresa May was to blame for the “really nasty” Home Office climate over immigration.

And the ex-Deputy PM said he had been forced to “constantly rein in the worst excesses” of her department.

Referring to Windrush, he said: “What happens is the administrative culture responds to that political tone which was struck by Theresa May.”

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