MAHMOOD OUTLINES SAFE ROUTES PLAN AS BURNHAM TRANSITION LOOMS

Shabana Mahmood will introduce legislation next week intended to speed up the opening of safe and legal immigration routes to the United Kingdom, according to the source material. The home secretary's bill will also establish new limits on immigration claims made under human rights law and modern slavery law. Mahmood is described as the leading contender to remain in her position should Andy Burnham become prime minister. The move follows pressure from within Labour regarding the restrictions placed on asylum claims.

Alf Dubs, a Labour peer, called on Friday for Burnham to remove Mahmood from the Home Office, characterising her asylum policies as "performative cruelty". Dubs, who arrived in the UK aged six in 1939 whilst fleeing Jewish persecution in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, stated that Mahmood's talents "would be better used elsewhere in the cabinet". Mahmood has been reassessing separate proposals to extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years. She has also engaged in discussions to exempt care workers from the changes.

Sources within Burnham's team indicated that Mahmood is most likely to remain in the Home Office, though cabinet positions remain unconfirmed. On Friday, a row emerged between Mahmood and Keir Starmer regarding immigration minister Mike Tapp, whom Mahmood requested be dismissed. No 10 declined Mahmood's request. Burnham is set to take office next month.