Mahmood in standoff with No 10 after call to sack junior minister

Downing Street has resisted immediately sacking an immigration minister after Shabana Mahmood asked Sir Keir Starmer to fire him for allegedly breaching the ministerial code.

The Home Secretary had called for the prime minister to dismiss Mike Tapp after he wrote an article suggesting foreign care workers should be exempt from her plans to tighten settlement rules.

But there appeared to be a stand-off on Thursday evening as No 10 said the Home Office minister remained in post and it is understood a decision has not yet been made by Starmer.

In an article for The Times, Tapp said his “strong belief” was that those already working in the UK care system should not have to wait longer to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Mike Tapp said he had been working with officials on a ‘better approach’. / Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA

The Home Office minister reportedly wrote that he had been working closely with officials to “develop a better approach than a blanket retrospective extension from five years to 10 years for everyone”.

Home Secretary Mahmood has proposed to double the time it takes for most migrants to qualify for permanent residence to a decade, including for claimants who are already in the UK but have not yet received ILR.

A government source said on Thursday: “The Home Secretary has asked the prime minister for Mike Tapp to be sacked for breaching the ministerial code.”

They suggested he had broken collective responsibility, a convention whereby individual ministers speak publicly for the government as a whole, by writing an article which was out of step with Home Office policy.

The Home Secretary is said to have been unaware of the piece and believes the Dover and Deal MP should be dismissed from his role as minister for migration and citizenship.

Cabinet ministers have publicly backed Andy Burnham, who is likely to become the next prime minister / Credit: Peter Byrne/PA

Tapp has been loyal to Starmer even as his authority drained away across the wider Parliamentary Labour Party and expressed disappointment when the PM announced his resignation on Monday, calling it a “sad day”.

The questions over his future come amid broader turmoil at the top of government, after Andy Burnham emerged as the frontrunner to replace the Labour leader as early as July 17.

On Thursday, Cabinet ministers backed the former Greater Manchester Mayor, who looks set to enter No 10 within weeks unless a challenger launches a bid for the top job.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Health Secretary James Murray and Chancellor Rachel Reeves – who faces the prospect of losing her Cabinet role under a Burnham government – all publicly endorsed him for the leadership.

Starmer has said he hopes to ensure disruption is “absolutely minimised” as he prepares to hand over power and promised to seek a “smooth” transition to the next premiership.

Sir Keir Starmer has promised to seek a ‘smooth’ transition and wants minimal disruption. / Credit: Toby Melville/PA

“I’m going to be professional, I’m going to have foremost in my mind a sense of service and duty that has driven me as prime minister,” the prime minister told reporters on Thursday.

“I will continue to faithfully serve my country to make sure that any disruption is absolutely minimised, and that’s why I’m taking steps now to ensure that can be done in a sensible way.”

Burnham is expected to begin setting out his policy platform in the coming days, with a speech on the economy pledging growth and committing himself to Labour’s existing rules on borrowing next week.

The i Paper reported that one plan being drawn up was to give regional mayors powers to control business rates in their area. Allies of the MP confirmed he had received advice on this but not that he was necessarily minded to do do so.

Some Labour MPs had considered whether to endorse another candidate to prevent a coronation that would see the former mayor secure the leadership unopposed, but few potential contenders have emerged.

Senior minister Darren Jones has ruled out running, and former defence minister Al Carns has not formally announced a leadership bid in a series of interviews in recent days despite considering the prospect of a challenge.

Labour’s ruling body confirmed the timetable for electing a new party leader, which will likely see Burnham installed on July 17.

Potential candidates have from July 9 to July 15 to amass the backing of the 81 MPs required, and until July 16 to gather nominations from affiliated groups such as trade unions.

If no challenger emerges with the backing of the 81 MPs required, then a conference will be held on July 17 where Burnham will likely be announced as winner.