Labour Ministers and Backbenchers Unite to Modify Mahmood's Immigration Strategy
In a significant development within the Labour Party, ministers concerned about Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's proposed immigration changes are secretly collaborating with backbenchers to secure additional exemptions. This effort aims to temper the plans, which would extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years, as revealed exclusively by the Guardian.
Starmer Under Pressure to Expand Exemptions
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently consulting on these reforms, which are designed to make it more challenging for migrants to achieve settled status in the UK. He is facing intense pressure from within his own party to ensure the measures do not apply retrospectively to individuals who have already entered the country. While Starmer has previously considered excluding public sector workers and those nearing settlement, backbenchers are urging him to go further to prevent widespread discontent.
One leading rebel MP stated that applying the changes only prospectively could placate most opponents, though others, including Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, argue for broader modifications, particularly regarding the earned settlement aspect. Another MP commented, "I personally disagree with all of the changes to indefinite leave to remain, but I think that the majority of the cohort would accept that compromise."
Internal Tensions and Political Fallout
The controversy has sparked internal strife, with Labour MPs angered by briefings against Tony Vaughan, the MP for Folkestone and Hythe, who coordinated a letter signed by 100 MPs opposing the measures. An anonymous Labour MP was quoted criticising Vaughan's record as a human rights and immigration barrister, a move that incensed Attorney General Richard Hermer, who has faced similar attacks. Home Office sources have denied involvement in these briefings.
Several MPs expressed frustration over the handling of their concerns, with one noting, "If you've signed the letter you just get rung up and shouted at," while another reported no response to a private letter sent to Mahmood over a month ago. There is a perceived "contempt" for MPs raising issues, as the changes do not require a parliamentary vote, limiting their ability to formally oppose them.
Electoral Implications and Public Backlash
Mahmood's immigration crackdown is part of the government's response to the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK, but many Labour MPs fear a threat from the left, highlighted by the Green party's victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection. In London, Greens have capitalised on the issue, with campaign literature accusing Labour of "punishing hardworking migrants" and promoting pro-migrant rights stances.
Critics within Labour, such as Sarah Owen of the Tribune group, have compared the threat of force against children to Donald Trump's immigration policies, while former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner criticised the changes as "un-British" for undermining fair play. The signed letter from MPs argued, "You don't win back public confidence in the asylum system by threatening to forcibly remove refugees who have lived here lawfully for 15 or 20 years."
Government Response and Consultation Process
A Home Office spokesperson reiterated the government's stance, emphasising that settlement should be earned, not automatic, citing high migration levels between 2021 and 2024. The spokesperson confirmed the consultation on applying the ten-year route to those in the UK without settled status, with over 200,000 responses under review. "We will outline our response in due course," they added, maintaining that the position remains unchanged despite internal pressures.
