Energy Secretary deletes her attack on Shabana Mahmood's migrant crackdown as Labour's cabinet split over settlement deepens

Miatta Fahnbulleh warned in a Peckham constituency post that making migrants wait longer for settlement would 'prolong the process of building cohesion'. The post has since been removed, and her office says the remarks were paraphrased. Angela Rayner has already branded the plans 'un-British'. Chris Philp says Labour cabinet ministers are 'openly campaigning against their own government'.

Mahmood warned untouched settlement rules would mean 'a £10 billion drain' on public finances.

Fahnbulleh urged Labour to 'challenge divisive political rhetoric' on immigration.

The Home Office is expected to water down the plans later this year.