Key facts
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is in a standoff with Keir Starmer over immigration minister Mike Tapp's unauthorized article.
- Tapp's article argued for exempting migrant care workers from stricter immigration reforms.
- Downing Street has not yet decided on Tapp's fate, despite Mahmood's demand for his sacking.
- The incident is seen as a breach of the ministerial code regarding collective responsibility.
- Mahmood faces pressure to revise her proposals on indefinite leave to remain for overseas workers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reportedly in a significant dispute with Labour leader Keir Starmer over the fate of her junior minister, Mike Tapp. Tapp, the immigration minister, wrote an article for The Times advocating for overseas care workers to be exempt from forthcoming immigration reforms, a move that reportedly occurred without Mahmood's knowledge.
Mahmood has demanded Tapp's dismissal for breaching the ministerial code, which requires ministers to maintain a united front after decisions are reached. However, Downing Street has stated that no decision has been made regarding Tapp's position, leaving the matter to the prime minister's judgment. Sources close to Mahmood suggest Tapp may have used ideas from internal discussions to bolster his own standing in anticipation of a new administration led by Andy Burnham.
The controversy highlights internal tensions within the Labour party as figures vie for positions. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the situation, calling it "chaos and infighting" driven by personal ambition rather than national interest. Mahmood herself is facing pressure to moderate her current proposals that would extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain for overseas workers.
In his article, Tapp stated his belief that care workers who have contributed to the system should not face extended waits for settlement. He indicated that exemptions would apply to those on the health and care visa route, a category that has seen over 616,000 visas issued between 2022 and 2024. The Home Office estimates that around 200,000 care workers and their dependents could apply for permanent settlement by 2030 if current rules remain unchanged. The immigration and asylum bill is scheduled for parliamentary debate next week, though the proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain are expected to be introduced via secondary legislation.