Nearly 80 Labour MPs have written to Andy Burnham to urge him to water down Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms.
In a joint letter to Mr Burnham, the group of backbench Labour MPs warned the Home Secretary’s Immigration & Asylum Bill risks “losing progressive voters”.
They added: “Targeting a group of migrants that followed the rules, and applying this retrospectively, does not pass the fairness test for a compassionate but firm system.
“We do not recall being asked on the doorstep to make it harder for migrant workers to settle in the UK.
“Yet we are expending political capital, huge Home Office resource, and losing progressive voters on an indefinite leave to remain reform, which few really understand or want.”
The legislation plans to double the time most migrants have to wait before becoming eligible for indefinite leave to remain and requires asylum seekers to repay some of their taxpayer-funded hotel bills.
However, Mr Burnham came out swinging in favour of Ms Mahmood’s reforms ahead of the Makerfield by-election in June.
He appeared to complete a spectacular migration U-turn after previously criticising the Home Secretary over her proposed changes.
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Nigel Farage pays tribute to “absolute force of nature and loyal ally” Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe has been described as a ‘true political titan’ | GETTY
Nigel Farage has said Ann Widdecombe was an “incredibly loyal ally” to Reform UK, hailing her as an “absolute force of nature.”
The Reform UK leader told TalkTV: “She was an absolute force of nature. She never let anyone, with any doubt in their minds at all where she stood on all the great issues of the day, and she was formidable too.
“I mean, I can tell you, the times when I used to get a phone call from Ann, abrupt Ann on the phone, saying she disagreed with what I’d done or what I’d said.
“And you know, she’d come to London and we’d sit down over a coffee and talk things through. But that was the thing about Ann – that all the disagreements she had with us over policy and direction and all the normal debate, that was always kept behind closed doors.
“You know, in public, she was the most incredibly loyal ally.”
He added that Miss Widdecombe moving to the Brexit Party was a “very significant” moment in “our political history”, adding: “She made us look serious. She made us look real.”
Health Secretary reflects on Ann Widdecombe’s contribution to politics and public life
James Murray said Ann Widdecombe was “never shy of having quite firm views” and everyone “can recognise the contribution that she made to politics.”
The Health secretary told Times Radio: “I think she’s been such a large part of our politics for many years. I mean, she was never shy of having quite firm views and sharing them quite willingly, and I can’t say I always agreed with her views, but she was such a part of our politics.
“I think everyone can kind of recognise the contribution that she made to politics and the role that she played in our public life.”
Politicians share tributes to former MP and Brexit champion Ann Widdecombe
Politicians have paid tribute to former MP and Brexit champion Ann Widdecombe, who sadly died at the age of 78.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said in a post on social media: “My deepest condolences and those of the Conservative Party to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe.
“She was a formidable politician who was never afraid to speak her mind and fought hard for what she believed. Always true to herself, her politics were strongly guided by her faith and her values. Rest in Peace, Ann.”
Health Secretary says Labour should ‘come together around Andy’s vision’
James Murray said he would not get into “running commentary and conversations that I’m having with Andy or his team”, when asked whether he was speaking to prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham.
Asked how secure his job as Health Secretary was, Mr Murray told Times Radio: “As I said, I’m not going to give any running commentary, and any of those decisions are, of course, for Andy to take himself.”
Asked about Mr Burnham facing a potential grilling by the Parliamentary Labour Party next Monday, Mr Murray said: “I didn’t know that was happening but it’ll be interesting to go along and I think come together around Andy’s vision because some of the things that matter to me that Andy set out, his focus on devolution for instance.”
