Tensions within the Labor Party over Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans continue to rise. Yesterday, a new front was opened when Tony Vaughan, one of the main rebels against the reforms, became the subject of a hit job in SUN. The article cast doubt on his past clients as a lawyer and quoted an anonymous Labor MP – described as a “supporter of the immigration wave” – putting the shoes on their colleague.
Labor MPs’ group chats erupted with fury at the colleague who anonymously targeted Vaughan: “nasty”, “disgraceful attack”, “disgusting”, “absolutely appalling” and “desperate stuff” were among the messages shared by dozens of MPs on the 2024 group chat yesterday. “This is the work of a coward,” wrote one, while others sought to condemn attacks on lawyers for their past clients.
Keir Starmer recently signaled to the deputies that he is set to make some exceptions to Mahmood’s current plans, allaying some of his party’s concerns about pole-shifting for immigrants already in the UK. Part of the reason Downing Street was so incensed by Angela Rayner’s intervention in the matter – when she described Mahmood’s plans as “un-British” – was that they felt that was the direction of travel anyway.
Inside Number 10, there is a growing awareness of the “asymmetric effect” of their immigration interventions: “you upset liberals more than you win over immigration skeptics,” as one insider puts it. The Cabinet was given a presentation a few months ago showing that the prominence of immigration had increased, not decreased – the opposite of what they want. It may not always seem like it, but Labour’s approach in government has been to try to deal with the issue better by talking less about it. No one wants to fight the next election on immigration. That’s why we rarely see Starmer himself lead publicly on the issue: when Mahmood makes an intervention, Starmer is often elsewhere, visiting about the cost of living, breakfast clubs or childcare.
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However, as Labour’s debate over immigration becomes increasingly personal, some in the party worry they are still talking too much about the issue, especially ahead of May’s crucial election. Whether they are sanctioned or not, Mahmood’s supporters seem to disagree. They want to make a bold bid on immigration and are willing to defend it. They have sent a clear signal that they will continue to fight for her proposals, including attacking one of her main critics in the tabloid press – even if it means drawing attention to an issue most of the party wants to shut down.
This piece first appeared in the Morning Call newsletter; get it every morning by subscribing to Substack here
(Further reading: Labour’s immigration battle heats up)
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