Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: “It is the last refuge of the scoundrel when a politician seeks to blame civil servants for their own misdeeds and miscalculations. Even in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister the former home secretary cannot bring herself to admit responsibility for the decisions made.

“She should apologise not only to the House of Commons but also the civil servants she has cynically sought to blame for decisions she has made on her watch. Conduct of this type undermines democracy and public servants deserve better from those they seek to serve.”