Andy Burnham has thrown his support behind Shabana Mahmood’s controversial immigration changes, his allies have said, dealing a blow to Labour MPs hoping to soften the measures. The Greater Manchester mayor is understood to be keen to reframe the reforms but broadly supportive of the home secretary’s attempts to limit legal and illegal migration, which some senior Labour figures have criticised as un-British.
Mahmood’s package includes scrapping permanent refugee status, removing support from asylum seekers deemed not to need it, and requiring those granted asylum to leave if their home country is later deemed safe. It also doubles the time to achieve settled status from five to ten years, a measure due later this year after consultation.
Burnham, who is standing in the Makerfield byelection, faces a tough contest against Reform UK, which has branded him “open-borders Andy”. A source close to his campaign said: “For Andy, migration is a moral issue … showing people who’ve lost faith in politics that we do have control.”
The byelection is seen as a test for Burnham, who is widely expected to seek the party leadership if he wins. However, Labour MPs who have canvassed in the constituency warn it will be difficult, with immigration the second most important issue for voters.
Despite support from Burnham, the reforms have sparked anger among some Labour MPs. Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner called the retrospective changes to indefinite leave to remain un-British, while Sarah Owen likened the deportation of children to US immigration detention under Trump. The party’s membership is divided, with YouGov polling showing over half of members backing the changes.
