Keir Starmer is facing a fresh Labour row after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood demanded the dismissal of one of her junior ministers over an unauthorised article on immigration policy.
Mahmood wants Mike Tapp, the immigration minister, removed after he wrote that overseas care workers should be protected from tougher settlement rules. Downing Street has not immediately agreed, saying no decision has been made by the prime minister.
The dispute centres on proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain, the route that allows people to live, work, study and claim benefits in the UK permanently. Mahmood has been under pressure over plans that could make some overseas workers already in Britain wait longer before applying for settlement.
Tapp wrote that it was his “strong belief” that migrant care workers who had “played by the rules” and contributed to the care system should not have to wait longer to apply for settlement.
Mahmood was not aware of the article before publication. A source close to her accused Tapp of taking ideas discussed inside government and presenting them publicly as his own, saying: “Mike Tapp is expected to be sacked for breaching the ministerial code.”
Downing Street sources for Guardian said it was for the prime minister to judge ministerial standards and any consequences. The row comes as Labour figures compete for positions in an expected Andy Burnham administration, with a change at No 10 possible as early as July 17.
Opposition politicians seized on the dispute. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Labour had “descended into chaos and infighting” and accused ministers of focusing on “personal ambition and jockeying for government jobs.”
Burnham has criticised applying tougher settlement rules retrospectively, saying it would leave people in “a sense of limbo and unable to integrate.” Angela Rayner has also said it would be “un-British” to make care staff already in the UK wait far longer before being allowed to settle permanently.
Mahmood is preparing to introduce an immigration and asylum bill in parliament next Tuesday. The settlement changes are not expected to be in that bill, but could still be brought forward later through secondary legislation.
