Border control controversy grows
An extra hit squad of Border Force officers sent to ease queues at Heathrow airport are sleeping on night shifts and spending much of the working day on coffee breaks, according to emails seen by the Daily Telegraph.
The immigration minister, Damian Green, announced plans to deploy additional teams of Border Force officials earlier this week, which could be “rapidly deployed” to ease pressure on terminals. However the Daily Telegraph claims emails show that existing teams spend much of their time sleeping and "strolling around the airport".
The controversy comes as bosses at Stansted airport say queues at immigration controls are still "unacceptable".
Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper blamed cuts to border staff for causing the problems, while Theresa May the Home Secretary said staff needed to be redeployed.