Migration minister Mike Tapp has defiantly rejected calls for his dismissal from Labour's Shabana Mahmood, who demanded that Sir Keir Starmer sack him over his public stance on immigration reforms. Speaking from a wedding in California, Tapp declared he would not be intimidated into dropping his views.
Tapp's Defiant Response from San Francisco
On Friday morning, Tapp, the MP for Dover and Deal, took to social media from San Francisco, where he was attending a friend's wedding. He mocked the controversy, writing: "It's gone from 'he broke the ministerial code' to 'he stole my idea'." He insisted that his op-ed in The Times merely outlined policies he had been working on for months, adding: "I have the receipts. Give it a read, and let's continue to discuss." He concluded: "I won't be intimidated to drop my views. Stay classy!"
Mahmood's Fury and Starmer's Refusal
Last night, Shabana Mahmood was reportedly furious after Tapp called for care workers to be exempt from proposed restrictions on citizenship, a key part of her flagship immigration policy. She urged Sir Keir Starmer to sack him, but the Prime Minister refused. This morning, Tapp vowed: "I won't be intimidated," after Mahmood's demands became public.
Political Fallout and Criticism
The public mutiny has heaped further embarrassment on Sir Keir, who announced this week he is stepping down, with Andy Burnham tipped as the frontrunner to succeed him. The shadow Home Secretary, a Conservative, condemned the "chaos and infighting," accusing Tapp of turning on his boss "in a brazen attempt to get a place in Burnham's cabinet." He added: "There is not a single thought for the national interest here. All these Labour ministers care about is their own personal ambition and jockeying for government jobs. It's beneath contempt."
Tapp's Social Media Post
Tapp posted a sun-soaked photo from San Francisco, cheekily noting that the Golden Gate Bridge was "hidden by the fog." The post was a clear dig at the political storm back in Westminster, as he continued to defend his position on immigration reform.
