NEW ROW OVER WEAKER MIGRANT PLAN

KEIR Starmer's leadership rivals jockeyed for position last night in a row over whether his migrants crackdown will be watered down.

- BY MARTYN BROWN

The embattled PM sparked talk of another U-turn as No10 refused to say if his tougher immigration plans will be introduced. It follows an attack from ex-deputy Angela Rayner, often seen as a leadership challenger, who described the overhaul of settlement rules as "un-British".

Shabana Home Secretary Mahmood, another senior figure with leadership goals, insists the measures doubling from five to 10 years the time it takes for migrants to qualify for permanent residence are needed to counter voter unrest.

The reforms would apply to people who have arrived in the UK since 2021. But Ms Rayner called the planned changes a "breach of trust".

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also seen as having his eyes on the top job swiftly backed her Tuesday night speech, saying the party should "listen" to what she was saying.

Allies of Ms Mahmood hit back, insisting the moves are "entirely consistent with Labour values", and the plans were defended by Health Secretary Wes Streeting yet another leadership hopeful.

Downing Street would not commit to the plans definitely going ahead.

Challenged on Ms Rayner's remarks, No10 appeared to signal an openness to watering down the Home Secretary's plans.

The PM's political spokesman would say only that a consultation had ended and ministers would respond in due course. He said: an attack from ex-deputy Angela Rayner, often seen as a leadership challenger, who described the overhaul of settlement rules as “un-British”.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, another senior figure with leadership goals, insists the measures — doubling from five to 10 years the time it takes for migrants to qualify for permanent residence — are needed to counter voter unrest.