UK Home Secretary demands PM sack minister over immigration op-ed breach
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood demanded Prime Minister Keir Starmer sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp for publishing a Times op-ed without approval, arguing migrant care workers should be exempt from tough immigration rules—a breach of collective responsibility. Starmer refused, keeping Tapp in post. The clash occurs three weeks before Starmer is expected to step down for Andy Burnham, amid internal Labour tensions after poor election results. Mahmood is seen as a potential Chancellor under Burnham.
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Keir Starmer Reprimands Shabana Mahmood and Rejects Demand to Sack Minister Mike Tapp
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reprimanded Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and rejected her demand to sack Immigration Minister Mike Tapp. The dispute arose after Tapp wrote an article in The Times without Mahmood's permission, in which he appeared to break government policy by suggesting that migrant care workers should be exempt from tough new immigration rules. Sources close to Mahmood accused Tapp of trying to take credit for her ideas and of breaking the ministerial code. Mahmood had also taken the unusual step of insisting she sign off on Tapp's requests to see official government documents. However, Downing Street announced on Friday evening that Tapp would remain in his post. A No.10 spokesman stated that it is for the prime minister alone to determine whether the ministerial code has been followed. Shortly before the announcement, Tapp apologized for a now-deleted post on X in which he accused Mahmood of 'intended intimidation' and referenced his military service.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Keir Starmer rebukes Shabana Mahmood and refuses to sack immigration minister Mike Tapp
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly reprimanded Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and rejected her demand to dismiss Immigration Minister Mike Tapp. Mahmood had called for Tapp's removal after he published an article in The Times without her approval, which appeared to contradict government policy by suggesting migrant care workers be exempt from stricter immigration rules. She also accused him of violating the ministerial code and attempting to take credit for her ideas. Downing Street announced Tapp will remain in his position, reminding Mahmood that only the Prime Minister can determine code breaches. Tapp later apologized for a since-deleted social media post in which he accused Mahmood of intimidation and cited his military service, calling the tweet 'poorly judged.' The episode highlights internal tensions within the Labour government over immigration policy and ministerial discipline.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Keir Starmer Backs Shabana Mahmood and Refuses to Sack Minister
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reprimanded Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and rejected her demand to dismiss Immigration Minister Mike Tapp. Mahmood had called for Tapp's removal after he wrote a newspaper column without her permission, appearing to break government policy by suggesting migrant care workers be exempt from tough immigration rules. Sources close to Mahmood accused Tapp of breaching the ministerial code and trying to take credit for her ideas. Downing Street announced Tapp would remain in post, warning that no individual secretary of state determines code compliance. Tapp later apologized for a deleted tweet accusing Mahmood of 'intended intimidation' and referencing his military background. The incident highlights internal government tensions over immigration policy and ministerial discipline.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Starmer Set to Ignore Home Secretary's Demand to Sack Junior Minister Mike Tapp
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to reject Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's demand to sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp. Mahmood accused Tapp of breaching the ministerial code by publishing a Times op-ed arguing that migrant care workers should be exempt from tough new immigration rules, written without her knowledge. A senior Whitehall source told HuffPost UK a sacking is 'very unlikely'. Tapp defended himself on social media, claiming the policy idea was his own and he would not be intimidated. The clash occurs just three weeks before Starmer is reportedly set to be replaced by Andy Burnham, following Labour's poor performance in May elections. Mahmood was among ministers urging Starmer to set a departure timetable. The demand has caused internal backlash, with government sources calling it a 'batshit show of strength' and 'unnecessarily vindictive'.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Starmer Set to Snub Home Secretary Mahmood's Demand to Sack Minister Mike Tapp
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to refuse Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's demand to sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp. Tapp allegedly breached the ministerial code by writing an op-ed in The Times arguing that migrant care workers should be exempt from new immigration rules, without Mahmood's knowledge. A senior Whitehall insider said it is 'very unlikely' Tapp will be sacked. Tapp defended himself on X, claiming the issue shifted from a code breach to a dispute over ownership of the policy idea. The clash occurs three weeks before Starmer is expected to be replaced by Andy Burnham, following Labour's poor performance in May elections. Mahmood's demand has sparked internal backlash, with sources calling it 'batshit' and 'unnecessarily vindictive.' Some government insiders suggested Mahmood could simply sack Tapp after Burnham takes over.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Starmer Expected to Reject Home Secretary's Demand to Sack Minister Mike Tapp
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to reject Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's demand to sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp. Mahmood alleged Tapp breached the ministerial code by publishing an op-ed in The Times arguing for exempting migrant care workers from tough immigration rules, without her knowledge. A senior Whitehall source said a sacking is 'very unlikely'. Tapp defended himself on social media, claiming Mahmood's complaint shifted from 'he broke the code' to 'he stole my idea', and stated he would not be intimidated. The conflict comes three weeks before Starmer is expected to be replaced by Andy Burnham after Labour's poor local election performance. Mahmood is among ministers who urged Starmer to set a departure timetable. The demand has sparked backlash within government, with insiders calling it 'batshit,' 'vindictive,' and noting Mahmood could dismiss Tapp after Burnham becomes PM.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Demands PM Starmer Sack Minister Mike Tapp
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has demanded Prime Minister Keir Starmer sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp after he published a newspaper article in The Times without prior approval. In the article, Tapp argued that migrant care workers should be exempt from tough new immigration rules and should not face longer wait times for permanent settlement. This appears to breach the principle of collective responsibility, which prohibits ministers from publicly opposing government policy. A government source confirmed Mahmood requested Tapp's dismissal for violating the ministerial code. However, when asked if Tapp had been sacked, a No.10 spokesperson merely stated he remains a Home Office minister, indicating Starmer has not complied. The dispute occurs just three weeks before Starmer is expected to step down and be succeeded by Andy Burnham. Mahmood, who had privately urged Starmer to announce a departure timetable after Labour's poor election performance, is considered a candidate for Chancellor in a potential Burnham cabinet.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Shabana Mahmood Demands Keir Starmer Sack Home Office Minister Mike Tapp Over Breach of Ministerial Code
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has demanded Prime Minister Keir Starmer sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp after he published a newspaper article in The Times without prior approval. In the article, Tapp argued that migrant care workers should be exempt from tougher immigration rules, expressing his 'strong belief' they should not face longer waits for permanent settlement. This appears to breach the principle of collective responsibility, which prohibits ministers from publicly opposing government policy. A government source confirmed Mahmood has formally asked Starmer to dismiss Tapp for violating the ministerial code. However, a No.10 spokesman declined to confirm any firing, stating only that Tapp remains a Home Office minister. The conflict occurs just three weeks before Starmer is expected to be succeeded by Andy Burnham. Mahmood previously urged Starmer to set a departure timetable after Labour's poor May 7 election results and is considered a potential chancellor in a Burnham cabinet.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Shabana Mahmood demands Keir Starmer sack junior minister Mike Tapp
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has demanded that Prime Minister Keir Starmer sack junior Home Office minister Mike Tapp, accusing him of breaching the ministerial code and the principle of collective responsibility. Tapp wrote an article in The Times arguing that migrant care workers should be exempt from tough new immigration rules, without clearing the piece with Mahmood first. Starmer has so far refused the demand, with a No.10 spokesman confirming Tapp remains a Home Office minister. The clash comes three weeks before Starmer is expected to be succeeded by Andy Burnham, and amid internal Labour tensions following poor election results. Mahmood, who had previously urged Starmer to set a departure timetable, is considered a candidate for Chancellor under Burnham. An anonymous government source was scathing of Mahmood's demand, calling it a 'batshit show of strength'.
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