Andy Burnham is backing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s controversial immigration changes, according to allies, dealing a blow to Labour figures hoping to soften the measures. The Greater Manchester mayor is understood to support efforts to limit both legal and illegal migration, despite criticism from some senior Labour MPs who have described the policies as un-British and reminiscent of Donald Trump.
Burnham faces a tough by-election in Makerfield against Reform UK, which has branded him “open-borders Andy”. However, those close to his campaign say he will not dilute the government’s curbs, which include ending the right to permanent refugee status. “For Andy, migration is a moral issue… showing people who’ve lost faith in politics that we do have control,” a source said.
Labour MPs who have canvassed in the constituency describe it as a very difficult fight, with immigration the second most important issue for voters. Burnham was confirmed as Labour’s candidate earlier this week and is widely expected to seek the party leadership if he wins the seat. The Conservatives have also announced a candidate, Michael Winstanley, despite calls from some Tories to give Reform a free run.
Mahmood’s reforms, announced earlier this year, include scrapping permanent refugee status, removing support from asylum seekers deemed not to need it, and doubling the time to achieve settled status from five to ten years. The changes have sparked outrage among some Labour MPs, with Sarah Owen likening child deportation plans to Trump’s ICE detention of minors, and Angela Rayner calling retrospective changes to indefinite leave to remain un-British.
Burnham’s campaign will be run by two prominent soft-left MPs, Anneliese Midgley and Louise Haigh. Polling from YouGov suggests Labour members are divided on the issue, with more than half supporting the reforms.
