Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reportedly considering resignation following a demand from Angela Rayner to scrap tougher immigration rules. Rayner, in a speech seen as a leadership bid launch, described plans to double the time migrants must wait for permanent residency as 'un-British'.
Mahmood had announced the policy to stem Labour support loss to Reform UK in Red Wall seats. However, Rayner argued the plans made migrants 'fear for their future' and showed Labour as 'the establishment'.
Allies of Mahmood claim she told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer she would resign if her reforms were 'meddled with'. Both the Home Office and No10 denied such a warning, but a Mahmood ally insisted she had made the threat.
The ally also accused Rayner of targeting Mahmood as a future leadership rival. Mahmood is said to feel exposed since the departure of No10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who championed the immigration crackdown.
One hundred Labour rebel MPs have condemned the plans, pushing for a Commons vote. Rebel leader Tony Vaughan claimed the reforms would cost the Treasury 'billions' by deterring skilled migration.
Mahmood has staked her reputation on tougher immigration rules, telling the Commons she knew migration's divisiveness from personal abuse. Labour MPs in Northern heartlands back her, criticising Rayner's 'un-British' remark as undermining promises to control borders.
