Andy Burnham risks Labour revolt before even becoming PM as he backs Shabana's Mahmood immigration reforms
Andy Burnham is set to throw his weight behind Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms, risking a backlash from Labour backbenchers.
More than 80 Labour backbenchers have written to the Makerfield MP warning him the party is "losing progressive voters" because of the Home Secretary's stance.
Under the proposals, asylum seekers would be required to pay back some of their taxpayer-funded hotel bills and it would be easier to deport illegal migrants.
Now, sources close to the likely next Prime Minister said he backed the bill, which he believes would make the immigration system fair for both asylum seekers and local communities.
A spokesman for Mr Burnham said: "Andy believes the public deserve an asylum system that is both compassionate and credible.
"This bill takes important steps towards restoring confidence by tackling illegal crossings while strengthening safe and legal routes for genuine refugees.
"This is about ensuring the system is fair both to those seeking protection and to the communities that welcome them."
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Labour minister admits 'every small boat that comes over is a boat too many'
A Labour minister has said "every small boat that comes over is a boat too many" as she claimed the Home Office has made "important" strides to bring down immigration numbers.
Justice minister Catherine Atkinson told GB News: "People want a firm and fair immigration system. We are making progress on small boats.
"We have seen Shabana Mahmood as a hugely effective Home Secretary and we need to see what will happen next post consultation.
"It is really concerning to see people come over illegally. Even though we have made really important strides but we have not solved it yet.
"Every small boat that comes over is a boat too many."
Andy Burnham 'eyes £38billion tax raid' on wealthy Britons, claims Robert Jenrick
Andy Burnham is planning to raise taxes on wealthy Britons by £38billion to help pay for higher public spending, according to analysis by Reform UK.
The analysis claims Labour's total annual tax rises would exceed £100billion under Mr Burnham, compared with around £66billion under the current Government.
Robert Jenrick, serving as Reform's economy spokesman, issued a direct challenge to the prime minister-in-waiting ahead of his unopposed election as Labour leader on Friday.
"Andy Burnham has spent 20 years reaching for other people's money a death tax on family homes, a graduate tax on young people getting their first pay cheque, a £14bn raid on savings and investment, and new levies on everything from your parking space at work to your weekend away," Mr Jenrick stated.
"If Mr Burnham disputes this, the remedy is simple: rule these 10 taxes out, by name, today."
Labour minister refuses to say if fast-track emergency legislation could be used to deport grooming gang leader
A minister refused to say whether changes to the law to allow for the deportation of grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed will come in the form of fast-track emergency legislation.
Justice minister Catherine Atkinson told the BBC: "I haven’t seen any emergency legislation, but the Government has been clear that it will take the steps needed to try and ensure that we are able to do what we want to do and not have men like this in our country/"
Asked what Labour would do if Pakistan says no to taking Ahmed back, she said: “What we have already seen is in relation to other countries and the returns policies that have previously said they wouldn’t take people, Shabana Mahmood has taken some really strong steps to ensure that that has changed.
"So I very much hope and anticipate that there will be a way through, and that’s what the Home Office has been determined to deliver."
She said no options had been ruled out in terms of steps to put pressure on Pakistan, but would not speculate on what they could be.
She said the fact that Ahmed had renounced his Pakistani citizenship was "a legal issue that needed to be overcome".
Andy Burnham will be a 'weak' Prime Minister, warns Chris Philp
Chris Philp has admitted he's concerned Andy Burnham will be a "weak" Prime Minister in standing up to his own left-wing MPs.
The Shadow Home Secretary told GB News: "These 80-odd left wing labour MPs are putting pressure on Andy Burnham and Shabana Mahmood to water down the proposals.
"It should take 10 years before someone gets the right to stay permanently.
"There are nine million economically inactive, we should get them into work instead of low skilled migrants, often from the third world.
"This is a major test for Andy Burnham. I fear he's going to be a weak Prime Minister, just like Keir Starmer was."
Tens of thousands to parade across Northern Ireland today in celebration of centuries-long tradition
Tens of thousands of people are set to march in Northern Ireland today for the Orange Order's annual Twelfth parades.
The celebrations mark 336 years since the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II.
Events are set to take place in 18 main locations throughout the region - though because July 12 landed on a Sunday this year, the traditional parades have been moved to Monday.
Forecasters are predicting warm and sunny conditions for the day's festivities, while the Orange Order's Grand Master Harold Henning has praised today as a celebration of 230 years of parading.
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Shabana Mahmood to lay out plans to change law to deport grooming gang leader
The Home Secretary is due to set out changes to the law to allow for the deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out proposals on Monday to amend a 1971 law preventing the removal of Ahmed, who was released from prison earlier this month.
Ahmed was released on July 2 after serving 14 years since his conviction in 2012 for rape and sexual offences against girls, some as young as 12. He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The Government has been examining ways to deport him since his release last week. The 1971 law forbids the removal of a small group of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.
Ms Mahmood is expected to detail a way to close the loophole in the Immigration Act which prevents his deportation even though he has already been stripped of his British citizenship.
It is not clear whether Ms Mahmood’s planned changes will come under separate fast-tracked legislation or as an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is due to be debated in the Commons on Monday.
A Home Office minister indicated last week that the Government could consider emergency legislation.
GB News understands Pakistan is not expected to accept Ahmed, with Islamabad demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in order to do so, according to reports last week.
Downing Street said the UK was "exploring every available option" including speaking to Pakistani authorities.
Keir Starmer heading to Paris as he begins final week in Downing Street
Sir Keir Starmer will begin what is expected to be his final week as Prime Minister with a diplomatic blitz as his expected successor Andy Burnham waits to take over.
Mr Burnham, the only candidate in Labour’s leadership process, is expected to officially succeed Sir Keir on Monday July 20.
No other challenger can get the required 81 MPs needed to stand against Mr Burnham, as he has the support of 322 out of Labour’s 403 MPs, and more are likely to nominate him on Monday when they return to Westminster.
Sir Keir is set to travel to Paris later where he will join allies of Ukraine for a meeting of the "coalition of the willing".
He is also expected to join Bastille Day events on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in Brussels today for a meeting about Palestine, where meet with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
RECAP: Britons 'could die in 12-hour queues at border' thanks to new EU system
British tourists could die in 12-hour long queues in Kent this summer unless the EU halts its contentious new border system, an MP has warned.
Herne Bay and Sandwich MP Sir Roger Gale said traffic gridlock thanks to the Entry/Exit System (EES) could stop emergency services reaching people in distress.
"If you have elderly people, children and dogs in 12-hour queues with no lavatory facilities, inadequate water supplies, somebody will die, somebody will have a heart attack," he said.
"I'm not overegging it. This is the stark reality," Sir Roger told The Times.
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