Theresa May saved by the bell as Brodie Clark stands firm

FORMER UK Borders Agency chief Brodie Clark has effectively accused Theresa May of lying, increasing the Labour calls for her to resign over the relaxation of border controls. But the Home Secretary's scalp has been saved by the bell, ringing for the autumn recess of Parliament.

Clark flatly contradicted the Home Secretary, saying: "I am no rogue officer. Nothing could be further from the truth."

With David Davis, the former Tory home affairs spokesman, watching from a ringside seat, Clark gave damning evidence that the passport queues at Heathrow were so bad in May, June, and July that checks had to be suspended 50 times to avoid planes being stacked in the sky, and passengers forced to sit on planes.

But as Clark gave his evidence, MPs were already packing their bags for an autumn break and won't be back until next week. Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow has been wiped out by the recess. Instead of Labour MPs calling for May's resignation, there will be an empty chamber.

The break should take the heat off the Home Secretary. Three factors are likely to combine to ensure she keeps her job: the issue is too complicated now for most lay observers to understand; Cameron doesn't want to lose another Cabinet minister, particularly a woman; and her Labour shadow is Yvette Cooper.

Cooper, tipped by some to be the next Labour leader, tried to call May to the Commons yesterday to answer an emergency question but was fobbed off with Damian Green, the immigration minister, to answer for her. Green, who is as affable as a puppy, told MPs that May couldn't be there because she was attending a meeting of the National Security Council which deals with major terrorist threats to Britain.

Cooper said: "The Home Secretary cannot keep running away. She should come to this House now…" Needless to say, May didn't.

Alan Johnson, the former Labour Home Secretary, accused May of dumping on a senior civil servant in a "disgraceful and dishonourable way".

Given Labour's past record, Cooper and Johnson don't carry much conviction in trying to nail May on immigration. The public distrust Britain's porous border controls, whoever is in power.

Clark sounded impressive until his evidence was torn to shreds by criminal barrister-cum-Tory MP, Michael Ellis and then flatly contradicted in further evidence by Rob Whiteman, the chief executive of the UK Borders Agency. It was Whiteman who suspended Clark and Whiteman now is May's 'get-out-of-jail' card. ·