Blunkett to vet immigration book

There are strict rules governing what civil servants can write about

The home secretary wants to vet a potentially damaging book about immigration by a sacked civil servant before it is published.

Steve Moxon's The Great Immigration Scandal alleges failings in David Blunkett's immigration policy, according to the Sunday Times.

The 48-year-old lost his job in Sheffield after claiming immigration checks had been waived.

The Home Office said it could stop the book if it broke government rules.

A spokeswoman told BBC News Online the Home Office had asked to see the book before it is published.

"Civil servants, serving or retired, may not publish any material whose subject matter touches on the business of their department and is derived from information acquired as part of their employment without first obtaining official permission.

"Mr Moxon and his publisher have been asked to provide a manuscript of his book and have been assured that permission to publish will not be unreasonably withheld.

"The Home Office would consider its position should Mr Moxon or his publisher refuse to comply with the request. "

Checks 'waived'

Mr Moxon, 48, first came to prominence when he made claims that key checks were waived by immigration staff in Sheffield to make the numbers coming to Britain seem less dramatic when the EU expanded in May.

He insisted he "exhausted all possible routes" before going to the press.

The revelations led to the resignation of the then immigration minister Beverley Hughes in April.

Immigration minister Beverley Hughes resigned over the matter

Mr Moxon, who was suspended immediately after he went to the press in March, was told last month he would be sacked for breaking the terms of his contract.

He intends to take the government to an employment tribunal, claiming his actions are covered by the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which allows workers to expose wrongdoing at work.

An extract of his book published in the Sunday Times described his frustration at what he said was Home Office stonewalling when he tried to raise concerns about abuses of the immigration system.

'Institutional failure'

Mr Moxon attempted to e-mail his superiors about what he saw as "a progressive institutional failure to apply the rules" but got no response.

He writes: "The attitude to applications for residency at the department was that if it arrives on your desk then you should grant it, if at all possible, because if you don't the applicant will disappear and stay in the country illegally."

Meanwhile, more than three-quarters of those questioned for a News of the World poll believe the issue of asylum seekers and illegal immigration is a worsening problem.

Only 4% of people thought the situation had improved and almost half said they did not believe any political party could sort it out.

Only 15% thought Labour was the best party to tackle the issue, with 24% backing the Tories, 3% opting for the British National Party and 2% for the UK Independence Party.