Arabic version: وزيرة الداخلية تحد من وصول الوزير إلى الوثائق بسبب نزاع حول السياسة

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is restricting Immigration Minister Mike Tapp’s access to government documents in an escalation of a row over a newspaper column. According to BBC News, Tapp’s article criticized proposed changes to visa rules for foreign care workers, which Mahmood is advocating.

The article, published in The Times, prompted Mahmood to request the prime minister to sack Tapp, as she believes he has breached the Ministerial Code by “freelancing on policy.” A Home Office source indicated that Tapp is expected to be sacked for his actions, which they claim involved taking ideas from Mahmood’s team and presenting them as his own.

Despite the request for Tapp’s dismissal, the prime minister has not yet acted on it, with a spokesperson stating that he is “taking advice” on the matter. Tapp, a loyal ally of Sir Keir, has publicly stated that he “won’t be intimidated to drop my views” on immigration policy.

The conflict comes at a time when the government is preparing to implement sweeping reforms to the immigration system, including extending the time for most migrants to qualify for permanent residence. Mahmood has defended these changes, citing the unprecedented number of arrivals in the UK as a reason for the reforms, which have faced criticism from within her party.

As tensions rise within the government, Justice Minister Jake Richards acknowledged the ongoing debate about immigration rules, suggesting it should be conducted more privately. The situation reflects broader uncertainties within the Labour Party following recent leadership changes, as the government gears up to introduce the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is expected to face significant opposition in Parliament.