Top civil servant quizzed over 'killer' email

A civil servant holds the key to the inquiry into the nannygate affair.

Immigration chief Paula Higson has been quizzed by Sir Alan Budd over the "killer email" that forced David Blunkett to quit as Home Secretary.

Ms Higson, deputy director general at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in Croydon, refused to comment about her role when asked by the Evening Standard.

The Budd inquiry will reveal tomorrow that the IND fast-tracked a visa for the nanny of Mr Blunkett's ex-lover Kimberly Quinn.

Senior officials within the Home Office are today bracing themselves for yet more resignations amid fresh claims of a cover-up. It emerged last week that Mr Blunkett's office had intervened in the visa application by faxing a letter to immigration chiefs. An emailed reply read: "No favours, but slightly quicker".

In a little-noticed detail, Mr Blunkett admitted in a TV interview on the night he quit that the email came from the "deputy general secretary's office" at the IND. Home Office officials have confirmed that he was actually referring to the deputy director general within the immigration HQ. Ms Higson, who is in charge of "managed migration", has been helping the Budd inquiry follow the "paper trail" of events.

A Home Office spokesman said that he could not comment on any queries about the Budd inquiry. It became clear today that Home Office permanent secretary John Gieve could face the sack if the inquiry finds that he tried to prevent an official from blowing the whistle on the affair.

Mr Gieve is alleged to have rowed with IND director general Bill Jeffrey over what exactly could be revealed to Sir Alan.

It was after this meeting that Mr Gieve told Budd that there was a paper trail which showed Blunkett's private office had been involved in the fast-tracking, despite the Home Secretary's denials.

The Budd report will reveal that Mr Blunkett repeatedly made misleading statements about his involvement in the special treatment given to Mrs Quinn's nanny.

It could also lift the lid on why every Home Office official went along with Mr Blunkett's claim that they couldn't remember a fax requesting fast-tracking or a "killer email" confirming the visa had been speeded up.

After senior immigration chiefs got involved, a female Higher Executive Officer helped process the nanny's claim in record time. Mrs Quinn told Mr Blunkett that she had received a letter warning it could take up to a year to get the visa.