Stephen Glover, writing in the Daily Mail, argued that the newly appointed Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will struggle to significantly reduce illegal Channel crossings and visa overstays because of legal constraints and the absence of a credible deterrent.
Glover described Mahmood as an "impressive" and pragmatic politician but said she was being sent into office "with both hands tied behind her back". He wrote that proposals floated for tougher measures — including reforming the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act, and building basic accommodation for single adult male asylum seekers on Ministry of Defence land — would be difficult to deliver in practice and politically controversial.
Glover contrasted Mahmood's appointment with that of her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, noting that more than 50,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats during Cooper's 14-month tenure as Home Secretary. He said recent figures, including a day in which more than 1,000 people crossed the Channel, pointed to the scale of the challenge Mahmood inherits.
The columnist argued that two actions would be required to stop the boats: withdrawing from the ECHR and introducing a credible deterrent. He acknowledged that withdrawing from the ECHR would be legally complex and suggested it was unlikely under a Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer. Glover also said previous attempts at deterrence — notably the government's Rwanda asylum plan — had been frustrated by judges citing human rights obligations.
Glover said other proposals, such as plans to move migrants out of hotels and into houses around the country or to build basic detention centres on Ministry of Defence land, would offer only partial relief and would be unpopular with some local communities. He argued that housing migrants in hotels was costly and that placing single adult men in new centres or in sought-after homes would provoke local opposition.
The column compared Mahmood's position to policies proposed by Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage, who has advocated withdrawal from international human rights instruments and immediate returns of illegal migrants. Glover described Reform's outline as "uncompromising and even harsh" but said it presented a clearer deterrent in outline than current Labour proposals; he also raised questions about practical and ethical issues, including the treatment of vulnerable people.
Glover warned that uncontrolled illegal immigration and overstaying visas were among voters' chief concerns and suggested the issue could shape the next general election. He said Mahmood was one of the more able figures on Labour's front bench but that legal, political and practical constraints would limit what she could achieve.
The article is opinion and reflects one columnist's assessment of the challenges facing the new Home Secretary. Government spokespeople have outlined intentions to take a tougher approach to illegal migration; Labour officials have previously said any policy changes must respect the country's legal obligations and human rights commitments. Legal experts note that altering the United Kingdom's relationship with the ECHR and the Human Rights Act would involve complex processes and potential domestic and international legal challenges.
Migration policy and the government's plans for detention, accommodation and returns continue to be debated across Westminster, the courts and among the public. Commentators and politicians from across the spectrum have offered competing proposals for stemming Channel crossings and addressing asylum-system backlogs, while campaigners and legal bodies have warned about the human rights implications of sweeping changes.