Downing Street has resisted immediately sacking an immigration minister after Shabana Mahmood asked Sir Keir Starmer to fire him for allegedly breaching the ministerial code.
Standoff over Mike Tapp's future
The Home Secretary had called for the Prime Minister to dismiss Mike Tapp after he wrote an article suggesting foreign care workers should be exempt from her plans to tighten settlement rules. But there appeared to be a stand-off on Thursday evening as No 10 said the Home Office minister remained in post and it is understood a decision has not yet been made by Sir Keir.
Mike Tapp said he had been working with officials on a ‘better approach’. In an article for The Times, Mr Tapp said his “strong belief” was that those already working in the UK care system should not have to wait longer to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). The Home Office minister reportedly wrote that he had been working closely with officials to “develop a better approach than a blanket retrospective extension from five years to 10 years for everyone”.
Home Secretary's proposal and breach of collective responsibility
Home Secretary Ms Mahmood has proposed to double the time it takes for most migrants to qualify for permanent residence to a decade, including for claimants who are already in the UK but have not yet received ILR. A Government source said on Thursday: “The Home Secretary has asked the Prime Minister for Mike Tapp to be sacked for breaching the ministerial code.” They suggested he had broken collective responsibility, a convention whereby individual ministers speak publicly for the Government as a whole, by writing an article which was out of step with Home Office policy. The Home Secretary is said to have been unaware of the piece and believes the Dover MP should be dismissed from his role as minister for immigration and citizenship.
Broader political turmoil and leadership race
The questions over his future comes amid broader turmoil at the top of Government, after Andy Burnham emerged as the frontrunner to replace the Labour leader as early as July 17. On Thursday, several Cabinet ministers backed the former Greater Manchester Mayor, who looks set to enter No 10 within weeks unless a challenger launches a bid for the top job. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Health Secretary James Murray and Chancellor Rachel Reeves – who faces the prospect of losing her Cabinet role under a Burnham government – all publicly endorsed him for the leadership.
Sir Keir has said he hopes to ensure disruption is “absolutely minimised” as he prepares to hand over power and promised to seek a “smooth” transition to the next premiership. “I’m going to be professional, I’m going to have foremost in my mind a sense of service and duty that has driven me as Prime Minister,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I will continue to faithfully serve my country to make sure that any disruption is absolutely minimised, and that’s why I’m taking steps now to ensure that can be done in a sensible way.”
Leadership timetable and potential challengers
Some Labour MPs had considered whether to endorse another candidate to prevent a coronation that would see Mr Burnham secure the leadership unopposed, but few potential challengers have emerged. Senior minister Darren Jones has ruled out running, and former defence minister Al Carns, also considered a potential challenger, has not formally announced a leadership bid in a series of interviews in recent days. Labour’s ruling body confirmed the timetable for electing a new party leader, which will likely see Mr Burnham installed on July 17. Potential candidates have from July 9 to July 15 to amass the backing of the 81 MPs required, and until July 16 to gather nominations from affiliated groups such as trade unions. If no challenger emerges with the backing of the 81 MPs required, then a conference will be held on July 17 where Mr Burnham will likely be announced as winner.
