Labour has erupted into civil war after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly begged Sir Keir Starmer to sack her own immigration minister, Mike Tapp. The row erupted after Mr Tapp wrote a Times article arguing that foreign care workers should be exempt from the government's new immigration crackdowns, without seeking authorisation from Ms Mahmood.
Unauthorised article sparks fury
Mr Tapp, whose Dover and Deal constituency serves as a major entry point for illegal boat crossings, wrote that it was his “strong belief” that migrants working in the care sector should not have to wait longer to obtain a British passport. The article was published without Ms Mahmood's knowledge or consent, violating collective Cabinet responsibility, which requires ministers to clear articles with their boss before going public.
Ms Mahmood, who announced hardline immigration reforms earlier this year to reduce the number of migrants moving to the UK, has now written to Sir Keir demanding Mr Tapp's removal. The Prime Minister announced earlier this week that he would be stepping down, with Andy Burnham expected to take over.
Labour already in turmoil
The immigration row comes as Labour is already in open civil war following Sir Keir's resignation announcement on Monday. Mr Burnham has previously criticised the retrospective application of immigration changes, stating that they would leave immigrants “in a sense of limbo and unable to integrate”. However, the Daily Express understands that Mr Burnham has yet to make a final decision on the controversial policy.
Earlier this year, more than 100 Labour backbenchers wrote to the Home Secretary urging her to scrap plans to apply the changes to migrants already in the country. Ms Mahmood has already demanded that newcomers wait longer before gaining the right to work, study, and permanently claim benefits.
What happens next?
Sir Keir has yet to respond publicly to the request to sack Mr Tapp. The Home Secretary's office confirmed that the article was unauthorised, and sources indicate that disciplinary action is likely. The situation remains fluid as the Labour leadership contest unfolds.
