Andy Burnham’s Cabinet has been thrown into chaos after Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh publicly attacked proposed plans to toughen border controls.
Miatta Fahnbulleh told constituents in Peckham that delaying permanent settlement rights for foreign nationals damages social cohesion across the country.
Integration threatened by prolonged wait
Under Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed overhaul, foreign nationals would face a 15-year wait before securing permanent settlement in Britain, up from the current five-year timeline.
Migrants could shorten that wait by earning a specific salary threshold or performing voluntary work in their communities.
Fahnbulleh warned her south-east London constituents that the political discussion surrounding migration has become depressing and toxic.
Ultimately, I want to see a system based on control and compassion, with a much stronger focus on integration
Miatta Fahnbulleh, Energy Secretary
Writing on her constituency website, the Energy Secretary expressed her concerns about extending waiting times.
Fahnbulleh stated:
If we continually prolong the time people have to wait for settlement, we can also prolong the process of building cohesion.
She urged Labour to change its approach to border policy.
We need to raise the level of the debate, challenge divisive political rhetoric and make the case for communities like the one we have in Peckham. That means talking about immigration with care, control and compassion.
Cabinet friction mounts over crackdown
Fahnbulleh is not the only minister challenging Mahmood’s migration package.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner previously hit out at the measures, arguing they alter the rules for migrants already living in the UK.
Rayner highlighted the severe impact on low-paid social care staff who moved to Britain to care for vulnerable citizens.
In a previous interview, Rayner expressed her deep concerns over the policy.
Especially in regards to the carers, who were asked to come to this country to care for some of our most vulnerable and then we changed the goalposts years down the line, I think that’s very disruptive.
She added:
I do have concerns about that. When you ask someone to come here and look after your most vulnerable and they spend years dedicating themselves, moving their lives here to look after our loved ones.
The row over immigration is part of a broader series of internal conflicts within Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Cabinet.
- Heathrow expansion: Ministers remain split over constructing a third runway at Heathrow airport.
- Energy policy: Cabinet members are divided over North Sea oil and gas development.
Collective responsibility under severe strain
As a member of the Cabinet, Fahnbulleh is bound by collective responsibility to support government policy in public or resign.
Her allies claimed the online message was authored by staff summarizing a Sept 25 town hall gathering, poorly paraphrased her, and would be revised.
They noted her true stance was reflected when she spoke to reporters at Labour’s party conference.
Fahnbulleh, who arrived in Britain as a child refugee from Liberia, admitted the proposed restrictions would have been difficult for her own family.
She said:
It would have been tough.
She added:
I represent a constituency which is hugely diverse, where we’ve got first, second, third-generation immigrants, and how we navigate this landscape has been tough.
Despite her criticism of settlement changes, Fahnbulleh expressed support for Mahmood’s handling of the small boats crisis, acknowledging genuine voter concern over cross-Channel arrivals and calling for asylum reform.
Retreat considered amid union backlash
Widespread resistance from backbench Labour MPs and union leaders has forced ministers into considering a policy retreat.
Unison general secretary Andrea Egan organized union protests against the toughened visa rules.
In response, Burnham has indicated he is rethinking the plans, with potential exemptions for care workers or dropping retrospective enforcement on migrants already in the UK.
Speaking at Labour’s annual conference, Mahmood hinted she might soften the package to balance fairness.
A Home Office spokesman confirmed that settlement must be earned and noted that responses to the consultation are currently being evaluated.
Opposition slams Labour border policy
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp launched a scathing attack on the ruling party’s internal fighting.
Philp said:
Labour’s Cabinet members are openly campaigning against their own Government’s supposed immigration policy. Miattah Fahnbulleh says she opposes a longer time for immigrants to get permanent settlement – the opposite of Shabana Mahmood’s claimed policy.
He added:
Shabana Mahmood has already delayed implementing her own policy, allowing 200,000 immigrants to stay permanently and claim benefits. Instead of being tough as she said she would be, she is running scared of Angela Rayner and the Labour Left.
Philp pointed out that nearly 1,000 foreign nationals receive permanent settlement rights every single day under Labour, which Mahmood admitted will cost taxpayers £10bn.
The Conservatives propose restricting permanent residence to high earners after 10 years, while requiring low-wage and no-wage migrants to leave once their work visas expire.