LAST night, Brodie Clark, the former head of the UK Border Force finally found his voice.
Those who have been watching the scandal unfold of Britain’s relaxed border controls have been wondering when his side of the story would be heard.
Now we know. In a statement issued last night, Mr Brodie defended himself every bit as resolutely as the Home Secretary Theresa May has been doing.
Mrs May, from the Commons’ Despatch Box and from the table in front of the Home Affairs Committee, has poured all the blame onto Mr Clark and his fellow senior civil servants.
It has been a very one-sided and heavy-handed approach.
Mr Brodie snapped last night: “My employer has disregarded my right to reply in favour of political convenience.”
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, this must be true. Mrs May has denied Mr Brodie a fair trial, either in a disciplinary hearing or in the court of public opinion.
Suddenly this has become a major headache for David Cameron. He has just lost his Defence Secretary for riding roughshod over Parliamentary standards; he cannot afford to lose his Home Secretary for riding roughshod over natural justice.
And there is still the scandal to sort out. It is now boiling down to Mr Brodie’s word against Mrs May’s.
There can now be no compromise.
One or other of them must be telling the truth.
Mr Brodie’s appearance before the Parliamentary Committee is now shaping up to be every bit as dramatic and defining as that of the Murdochs.
If Mr Brodie is a credible witness who can back up last night’s statement, Mrs May is going to be in real trouble.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here