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head of the Home Office and a senior Cabinet minister in Her Majesty's Government. It is a high profile position, one of the four Great Offices of State, and is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious and important roles in the British Cabinet.

The Home Secretary is responsible for the internal affairs of England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the United Kingdom. The remit of the Home Office also includes policing in England and Wales and matters of national security, as the Security Service (MI5) is directly accountable to the Home Secretary. Formerly, the Home Secretary was the minister responsible for prisons and probation in England and Wales; however in 2007 those responsibilities were transferred to the newly created Ministry of Justice under the Lord Chancellor.