Labour civil war erupts as Home Secretary demands immigration minister’s dismissal
A Labour civil war broke out last night after the Home Secretary demanded her own immigration minister be sacked – only for No10 to insist the decision is not hers, reports BritPanorama.
Mike Tapp sparked fury after using an article in The Times to publicly state that foreign care workers should be spared Labour’s tougher settlement rules.
Shabana Mahmood was reportedly unaware of the article before it was published. A Government source indicated that she has asked the Prime Minister to dismiss Mr. Tapp for breaching the Ministerial Code. However, Downing Street insiders maintained that Mr. Tapp remains a minister and that the Prime Minister alone is responsible for determining if ministers have breached the Code and what action should follow.
Mr. Tapp expressed his “strong belief” that foreign care workers who had “played by the rules” should not face Labour’s proposed extension of the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain from five years to ten.
The row coincides with PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham’s deliberation on whether to advance these settlement reforms. Burnham stated he supports the “broad thrust” of the policy but has previously criticized applying tougher rules to migrants already residing in Britain.
Over 100 Labour MPs have urged Ms. Mahmood to reconsider the retrospective changes, while her department continues to evaluate responses to a consultation prior to finalizing the policy. She is expected to retain her role as Home Secretary under a potential Burnham government.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp characterized Labour’s situation as one of “chaos and infighting,” asserting that the focus of Labour ministers is on personal ambition rather than effective governance. “It’s beneath contempt,” he concluded.
As Labour grapples with these internal conflicts, the implications for their immigration strategies and the party’s unity remain critical issues in the lead-up to future elections.
