Mahmood in standoff with Starmer over junior minister’s fate
8 reported
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is in a standoff with Prime Minister Keir Starmer after Downing Street refused to immediately sack her junior minister, Mike Tapp, for breaching the ministerial code. Tapp, the immigration minister, wrote an unauthorized article for the Times calling for overseas care workers to be exempt from proposed immigration changes. Mahmood was unaware of the article, which a source close to her said was written to try to win a job in the incoming administration of Andy Burnham, expected to take power as early as July 17. Downing Street sources said no decision has been made on Tapp's fate, and that it is up to the prime minister to judge standards of ministerial behavior. The row is the latest sign of tensions between Starmer and Mahmood, after she urged him to stand down following Labour's local election results. The shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, criticized the situation as chaos and infighting within the Labour government.
What’s reported
Shabana Mahmood demanded that Mike Tapp be sacked for writing an unauthorized article for the Times.
The article called for overseas care workers to be exempt from hardline immigration changes.
A source close to Mahmood said Tapp took ideas from ministerial discussions and briefed them as his own to try to win a job in Andy Burnham's administration.
Downing Street sources said no decision has been made on Tapp's fate, and it is up to the prime minister to judge.
The row follows Mahmood urging Starmer to stand down after Labour's local election results.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Labour government has descended into chaos and infighting.
Tapp wrote in the Times that care workers who have played by the rules should not wait longer to apply for settlement.
The immigration and asylum bill is set to be placed before parliament next Tuesday.
Key figures
Shabana Mahmood, home secretary
Keir Starmer, prime minister
Mike Tapp, immigration minister
Andy Burnham, expected to take power as prime minister
Chris Philp, shadow home secretary
Angela Rayner, ally of Burnham
Sources: The Guardian
