It makes one wonder how much more incompetence has to be revealed. I think Jack Straw made a mess of the Home Office last time he was there didn't he? The thing about public office is, failure equates to success and promotion. We live in topsy-turvy (New Labour) times don't we?

Rod Ballard, Leicester, Leicestershire

Thank god for a relatively free press and for the few whistleblowers or we would know nothing of what our corrupt and incompetent politicians are up to, or rather not up to.

I have to be CRB vetted to work in the travel sector and will soon have to submit to same to continue to work as a driving instructor. A position I qualified for in 1970. I an a WASP born in England and living here all my life.

Will the government please give me £1500 to leave these overtaxed and badly managed shores ?

m j merriman, nottingham, notts

My 56 year old husband who is eminently well qualified can't get a job, but we can employ illegal immigrants. Madness. If you can, now's the time to leave.

judy, Liverpool, england

As everyone knows, we have to treat nulab statistics with an extremely large pinch of salt, so we can safely assume that double the amount is more relevant and possibly a bit more besides. I feel we are being tormented by a higher being by having this incompetant shower foisted on us. We are all of us in hell already and being poked in the eye by Satan and his imps.

Albert Fisher, kettering,

As it is against the law to employ illegal immigrants how many very well paid senior and junior civil servants be taken to court, as would any other employer in this country, let me guess.........................................absolutely NONE!

All the Civil Servants responsible for this continuing fiasco should at least be sacked and denied their inflation proofed pensions, it's no good blaming the Home Secretary on this occasion shes only been in post for a few weeks, too short a time to discover the amount of corruption at the Home Office.

Brendan, Gloucester, UK

Eddie Keane, illegal immigrants are breaking the law by being in the UK - this is the evidence of criminal behaviour you wanted to see.

But these people aren't all bad are they? OK, fair point; we'll buy them all one way tickets and fly them to you in Australia.

Kevin, Greater Manchester, UK

Have any of these illegal refugees been tried and convicted of anything?If not then let's make their residence in Britain legal and allow them to continue working in the poorly paid jobs that British born residents won't do - after the neccessary background checks of course.
Illegal immigrants are not all criminals and I would like to see the evidence of criminality amongst the illegals detected working for the various Security firms contracted to the Govt.
Hey-these people pay tax and contribute to the wellbeing of the nation.Demonising such a group only marginalises them further - most illegals want what the rest of us want-namely peace, security and the opportunity to work and raise children in a supportive,progressive and tolerant environment.

Eddie Keane, Brisbane, Qld.,Australia

Politicians and other public servants forget they are just that - the high wages probably ges to their heads. This woman will never resign, just like many before her who refuse to take blame for cock-ups in management or administration. Gone are the days when, to win elections, politicians needed to be both effective and efficient....now they just need to be attractive to the media and 'appear' to be effective and efficient.

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hapshire, England

Cover ups, sleaze and coruption. Isn't that what took down the Tories? After so lon in power Labour have become complacent, just like theTories before them. There's not a single senior politician or member of thier staff we can trust - regardless of party. The old joke has come true "How do you know when a politician is lying? Thier lips are moving!", only now of course the're lying even when thier lips aren't moving!! - maybe the Monster Raving Loony Party should re-form, I doubt they could do worse!

Ron, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Oh Goodness, we read so often, of so many, levels of incompetence, irresponsibility and Such True Naivety, I now despair of our political servants.

Has joining the EU made them so ?

Or, were they always thus?

Mike, London, UK

It's time we took a more stringent stand on immigration. i have nothing against the thousands (millions?) of hard working immigrants who have come here legally, or at least registered once they arrived, but anyone who avoids the system should be returned to thier last known or identifiable country of origin - full stop. No appeals. If they really want to come here they should do it properly and not just walk in! Until we make it clear we will have no truck with people who think we have open house, they will continue to abuse us. As for the employers - punative fines, suspended prison sentances and banned from running a company for life. It's time for hard line tactics to put some respect back into our society.

Ron, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Just proves that England is the dustbin of the World
and that it needs a strong Englishman to run our country.
Certainly not someone who couldn't care less.

Peter Fullagar, West Wickham, England

Why all the talk of incompetence and blunder, when we all know it has been deliberate?

Arthur W., Swindon, England

Will the government deport the illegal immigrants or will they all no doubt remain in the country and in jobs to protect their human rights?

Marian, London, UK

Just think that in the past/Future? the person who may be 'directing' you, rightly or wrongly may not have the legal right to be in this country.!!
does anyone have any confidence in those 'checking' on who or who is not 'illegal'? steps will be taken to 'reduce' the number of those who do not have proper clearance

mikecassidy, oxford, england

We need a new government and quickly

Janet, Essex, UK

How would immigration officials know about criminal convictions of illegal workers, by the very nature of being here outside the systems of detection. Perhaps they should be given a criminal conviction when found, this might deter them in the first instance.

johnevans, manchester, uk

Ms Smith should resign. She wont tho until she, like all our public servants, scank us all amassing piles of expenses first!

Anne, nottingham,

Another revelation of gross incompetence and bluster, cloaked under the guise of robust action !

Haven't people had enough yet ?

Chris, Newcastle upon Tyne,

How can the Immigration department state that illegal workers "do not have criminal convictions", if they don't know who they are??

Steve, Kegworth, Leicestershire

I don't suppose that mere incompetence or dishonesty will prevent this minister from taking a five-figure bonus payment.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

A Nulaber Minister being economical with the truth?

What a turn up for the book!

Jon Leigh, Southern, France