Shabana Mahmood has made a strong plea for Keir Starmer to dismiss one of her ministers, leading to a potential clash with No10.
The Home Secretary expressed anger after Mike Tapp wrote an article advocating for relaxation of her immigration policies without her approval. Tapp strongly believes that migrant care workers should not have to wait 15 years to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), a concession that is under consideration.
Despite the request for dismissal, No10 has thus far declined to remove the immigration minister, indicating that no immediate firing is expected. This situation could create tension between the Prime Minister and the Home Office head.
In response to the backlash, the Home Secretary and her team are reportedly exploring an exemption to her stringent migration reform. A government source disclosed that Mahmood has urged the Prime Minister to sack Mike Tapp for breaching the Ministerial Code, which requires ministers to collectively stand behind decisions.
According to an insider speaking to Sky News, Tapp, a supporter of Starmer who suggests a general election if he is replaced, allegedly presented ideas that the Home Secretary was already considering, claiming them as his own to secure a position in the new administration.
Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is assessing proposals to soften aspects of the migration overhaul. The proposed changes to ILR regulations, including retroactive application, have sparked criticism.
If implemented, care workers arriving in the UK post-Covid could face a 15-year wait for qualification, tripling the current five-year requirement. This would necessitate seeking a new sponsor with each job change, potentially causing an exodus from the struggling sector, as warned by unions.
Over 100 Labour MPs have urged Starmer to reconsider the proposals. Lydia Kabute, a health and social care visa holder from Kenya, questioned the rationale behind extending the qualification period, emphasizing the challenges faced in the care sector due to the pandemic.
Unison, a trade union, condemns the proposed rule change as ethically unjust and warns of exacerbating the social care crisis, highlighting that migrant staff constitute nearly 30% of the sector’s workforce.
Under the revised rules, individuals must reside in the UK for ten years to attain settled status, with expedited processing for NHS workers, high earners, and volunteers, while those claiming benefits or entering the country unlawfully will face penalties.
Mahmood asserts that her reforms aim to establish a compassionate yet regulated system.
The Mirror has reached out to Mr. Tapp for his response.