Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh backs Labour's migrant crackdown in U-turn after joking she would 'never lie'

Fahnbulleh had criticised the proposals on her constituency website, warning they threatened 'cohesion'.

No 10 refused to say whether it had ordered her to issue the clarification.

Labour MPs and trade unions are pushing Mahmood to water the plans down.

On Wednesday she repeatedly refused to tell Sophy Ridge on Sky News whether she supported Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans. The government wants most migrant workers to wait 10 years rather than five for permanent residency, and refugees up to 20. Her quip to Westminster journalists reportedly went down badly with colleagues. She later called it a self-deprecating remark that had not come off as intended.