Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will speak in the Commons today (Image: Getty)
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the Tories’ “open borders experiment” during the last government, branding the millions who came to Britain during that time the “Boriswave”.
The hard-line minister was announcing new reforms to legal migration, after announcing sweeping changes on Monday to stop illegal migration.
Ms Mahmood set out further details on plans to double the amount of time legal migrants will have to wait before being allowed to qualify for indefinite leave to remain – and therefore a suite of welfare entitlements – from five to ten years.
Prosecuting the Tories’ failure, Ms Mahmood blasted: “Around 1 in every 30 people in this country arrived in [the four years under the Tories]. This is the result of the extraordinary open border experiment conducted by the last Conservative government
“In that period – now sometimes called the Boriswave – immigration controls were drastically lifted, this was most notable in the case of the health and care visa where minimum salary requirements were dropped.”
However her Tory opposite, Chris Philp, said legal migration has been “far far too high” on Labour’s watch and that the days of mass low-skilled migration “must come to an end”.
However once again he welcomed large parts of Ms Mahmood’s announcements, though claimed many had been originated under the previous Conservative government, which Labour opposed at the time.
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Nearly one million people let down
The number of young people not in employment, education or training has fallen slightly but remains close to a million, figures show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of so-called Neets aged 16 to 24 in July to September was estimated to be 946,000, down from 948,000 in April to June.
Helen Whately MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said: “Today’s figures make one thing clear: Labour are failing young people. Right at the time when they should be starting careers, young people are being written off.”
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, said: “The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been far too high for too long, which is why we are tackling this crisis of opportunity with new energy and determination.
“Our Youth Guarantee will ensure 18-to-21-year-olds have access to education, training, an apprenticeship – or ultimately guaranteed paid work if they cannot find a job.
“And I have commissioned former Health Secretary Alan Milburn to identify how we can go further to tackle the root causes of youth activity by improving employment support, skills, health and welfare.”
Andy Burnham won’t rule out challenge to Starmer
Andy Burnham has refused to rule out challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party.
Facing repeated questions on the issue, the mayor of Greater Manchester repeatedly deflected and said he was not in a position to rule out a move against the Prime Minister.
On BBC Breakfast he appeared frustrated at being pressed on his leadership ambitions, suggesting this type of question could be part of the problem with the culture in Westminster.
Asked whether he would rule out a challenge to Sir Keir, he said: “I am not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or might not happen because I don’t know what the future will hold.”
When pressed again on a potential leadership challenge, Mr Burnham said: “I am not in a position this morning to do that.”
Government defends delay publishing transgender guidance
Ministers will take time to get transgender guidance “right” to avoid a situation where “toilets are being policed by people”.
Children’s minister Josh MacAlister acknowledged “the problem isn’t going to go away” as the Government continues to assess guidance produced by the equalities watchdog.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance suggests transgender people could be banned from single-sex spaces based on what they look like, according to The Times, which has seen a leaked copy of the document.
The document was sent to ministers almost three months ago but Mr MacAlister said it would take time to assess.
Andy Burnham ‘appreciates the support’ of MP who wants him to replace Starmer
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said he “appreciates the support” of Labour MP Clive Lewis, who said he would be willing to give up his parliamentary seat to allow the Manchester mayor to mount a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer.
When asked about the proposal on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Burnham said: “I appreciate the support, but I couldn’t have brought forward a plan of the kind that I brought forward today without being fully focused on my role of mayor of Greater Manchester.”
Home Secretary likely to make it harder to obtain indefinite leave to remain
The Home Secretary could confirm plans double the time it’ll typically take migrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain, from five to 10 years, with migrants also required to demonstrate they are contributing to the community.
What else has the Government unveiled this week?
Children born in the UK to refugee parents could face deportation under Shabana Mahmood’s asylum crackdown, according to reports.
Read the full story here
Labour backbenchers have eruped over immigration reforms
Labour backbenchers have strongly criticised Ms Mahmood’s wide-ranging reforms, which are aimed at deterring migrants from seeking asylum in the UK and making it easier to remove people with no right to be in the country.
But they have been praised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who posted on social media: “The Overton window has been obliterated, well done patriots.”
The “Overton window” refers to the range of political ideas considered acceptable by the mainstream at a particular time.
Commons gears up for showdown around 11.30am
Shabana Mahmood will spar with her critics across the chamber when she makes a statement to the Commons expected around 11.30am.
Where’s Keir Starmer?
Keir Starmer will end the day on a jet to the G20 in South Africa.
The pack of traveling journaists with him will be eager to grill him on all manner of topics, from doubts about whether he can survive in office to Rachel Reeves’s looming budget.
Payments to help migrants return home could see ‘big increase’, says Mahmood
Morning!
Shabana Mahmood said she is considering “a big increase” in payments for migrants to return voluntarily to their home countries, insisting that the policy represented “value for money”.
The Home Secretary told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast that she had already directed officials to “pilot a small programme” of increased payments “just to see how it changes behaviour”.
The UK currently offers payments of up to £3,000 for some people with no right to remain in the country who agree to return home.
(Image: Getty)
