Tories accuse Angela Rayner of 'dictating' Britain's migration policy after Mahmood is expected to water down settlement reforms

From the Newshound archive · first published 3 October 2026.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has accused Shabana Mahmood of surrendering to Labour's left wing over immigration, claiming Angela Rayner is now calling the shots on border policy. Mahmood is expected to soften plans to make migrant workers wait up to 15 years for Indefinite Leave to Remain, backing down after over 100 Labour MPs rebelled. Rayner, who Burnham brought back into Cabinet as Housing Secretary, had branded the original reforms 'un-British'. Mahmood told Labour conference she would 'come to a position that balances fairness' — widely read as a climbdown.

Philp offered Tory votes to push the original reforms through Parliament despite the Labour rebellion.

The climbdown comes as Burnham also split with Mahmood by blaming Brexit for the small boats crisis — a claim his own Home Secretary has publicly rejected.

Labour MP Graham Stringer backed Mahmood, saying the crisis is 'entirely about the legal framework we operate in under the European Convention on Human Rights.'