Net migration has hit its lowest level since the pandemic – but you won’t catch swathes of Labour MPs celebrating the good news. The number of people moving to Britain dropped to 171,000 in the twelve months to December, nearly half the figure recorded the year before. While the fall is predominantly the result of reforms introduced by the Conservatives, it wouldn’t be hard for Labour backbenchers to at least try to claim some credit. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has either maintained or expanded the tightening of restrictions on student and work visas. Her input could potentially see net migration hit the magic number of zero.
Mahmood posted on X: ‘This government is restoring order and control to our borders.’ Responding to the 36 per cent drop in illegal migrant hotel use since last year, she added: ‘This Labour government will close all asylum hotels for good.’ Sir Keir Starmer posted similar sentiments. Beyond that, the message barely reverberated across the accounts of backbenchers, who are usually all too quick out of the gate when the party increases benefits or introduces new net zero policies.
Allies of Andy Burnham claimed he will stick by Mahmood’s proposals
Indeed, rather than welcome the stats, a cohort of the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) will try to use today’s figures to demand that Mahmood’s proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) are abandoned. Many of those furious at the plan to double the time it takes for foreigners to be granted settlement status have also been vocal in their support of Andy Burnham and his mission to become the next Labour leader. This week, allies of the Manchester mayor claimed he will stick by Mahmood’s proposals – a position he could hardly avoid given the Reform threat in Makerfield.
But Burnham is also reliant on the very people in the PLP who despise toughening ILR to vote for him to overthrow Sir Keir. Eventually, Burnham will have to explain how he intends to reconcile the demands of his constituents and the country with those of Labour backbenchers. Reform would do well to exploit this contradiction on the campaign trail.
For the Labour ministers who actually understand and agree with the public view on getting a grip, the job continues. Home Office Minister Mike Tapp told The Spectator today:
Shabana is hyper-focused on delivering exactly what the country has asked this government to deliver: lower net migration and an economy that does not rely on low skilled overseas workers. The Boris wave has presented this government with unprecedented levels of migration at an unmanageable pace and scale of change. We will always reward hard work, integration and contribution and that is what our firm but fair model is starting to deliver – but there is still lots more to do.
Crucially, he added: ‘It’s important that, as a government, we continue to listen to the country.’
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