Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood delivered a statement in the House of Commons regarding her immigration policy, facing a significant display of discontent from within her own party. The session, described as an 'Operation Save Shabana,' saw several government ministers present to support the Home Secretary.
However, the attendance on the Labour benches was notably high, indicating concern over the direction of policy. Members of Parliament expressed their views, with some government ministers actively participating in the debate. The Chief Whip, Anneliese Midgley, was present, as were Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, and Louise Haigh, First Secretary. Sir Christopher Bryant, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Pat McFadden, whose department will bear significant costs related to the policy changes, also attended.
Moody reports suggest that Labour's Angela Rayner, who had previously opposed stricter proposals, left the chamber shortly before Mahmood's statement. Rayner's departure was interpreted by some as a signal of success in undermining the Home Secretary's original stance.
During the statement, Mahmood delivered her remarks with 'beaky determination,' according to one observation, emphasizing consonants with 'industrial emphasis.' Her tone was described as a 'dry monotone,' with her delivery likened to 'pebble-dashing' her words at the audience.
Conservative MP Chris Philp criticized the Home Secretary, stating that it took a year to build a reputation for being tough, which she had dismantled in 12 minutes. He also claimed the policy U-turn would cost billions, a point met with strong reactions from Labour MPs, including Antonia Bance and Natasha Irons.
Further dissent came from Labour backbencher Oliver Ryan and Perran Moon, who have reportedly been in the Whips' bad books. Sir Edward Leigh, a Conservative MP, remarked that any Home Office minister from 2023 should be 'in sackcloth and ashes.'
Mahmood's policy shift involves abandoning tougher residency rules, with reports indicating that only a quarter of arrivals will have to wait longer for leave to remain. This 'climbdown' has been estimated to cost around £10 billion.