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Sadiq Khan joins migration revolt against Shabana Mahmood after PM undermines Home Secretary on small boats
London Mayor Lord Khan has joined Labour’s migration revolt against Shabana Mahmood’s proposed reforms to the wait time for those being granted indefinite leave to remain.
“I’m somebody who’s not in favour of changing rules retrospectively, but also I’m somebody who recognises we need to control our borders,” Lord Khan said.
“We need to make sure those who come here contribute.
“But also in our immigration policy, we need compassion as well.
“And I’m confident once Shabana Mahmood has taken on board the responses to the consultation, she’ll announce a policy that we can all get behind.”
Lord Khan’s comments mean the London Mayor joins high-profile Cabinet ministers Angela Rayner and Miatta Fahnbulleh in speaking out against the Home Secretary’s proposed plan.
However, Ms Mahmood’s comments at the Home Affairs Select Committee on the small boats crisis were also undermined by Andy Burnham this morning.
The Prime Minister broke ranks with his own Home Secretary to blame Brexit for the crisis in the Channel.
Speaking earlier this year, Ms Mahmood said: “I’m sure there’s lots of other debates to be had about the rights and wrongs of Brexit.
“But is Brexit responsible for the boats? I don’t think that’s true.”
GB News has approached the Home Office for comment.
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Robert Jenrick warns Britain is ‘broke’ and UK economy is now a ‘joke’
Robert Jenrick has claimed Britain is “broke” as he and Nigel Farage unveil Reform UK’s “economic rescue plan” at an event in London.
The Reform UK MP warned the country was spending £110billion a year on debt interest, claiming lenders were becoming “restless” as borrowing costs soared.
He said: “The state is broke and so are many of the people who pay for it.
“The cosy Westminster club, it’s not so worried. But you are. You know when you’ve been had, you know when you can’t take any more.
“First look at the state. We spend £110bn a year on interest – not paying down the debt, just interest. We pay our creditors nearly twice what we pay our armed forces.
“Since the election, Labour have handed a quarter of £1 trillion to the people who lend us money. That was your money. It could have built 200 new hospitals, filled every pothole in Britain ten times over, rebuilt every crumbling school and still put a new GP surgery in every single town. Instead, it went to our lenders.
“And you know what? Those lenders are getting restless. Last month the rate we pay to borrow went through 6% for the first time since 1998, well past Liz Truss territory.
“Now we pay more to borrow than any other G7 country. More than Greece, more than Italy – once joke economies that Germany had to bail out.
“Well, we’re the joke now.”
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‘It’s me versus Andy Burnham in a Brexit general election,’ Nigel Farage declares
Nigel Farage has declared it would be a straight contest between himself and Andy Burnham in a general election fought over Brexit, Europe and migration.
The Reform UK leader said: “He has no mandate whatsoever to agree to anything at that summit. It would not only be a betrayal of the greatest democratic exercise in the history of this country but also a betrayal of what he promised the voters of Makerfield just a few short months ago.
“None of this legitimately can be done, from a democratic perspective, without a general election.”
Mr Farage also predicted a general election could take place in spring 2027, adding: “If there’s going to a general election about Europe, open borders and migration, then it absolutely needs to be a straight contest between this Prime Minister and this party.
“The Conservatives, even given the opportunity of ending free movement with the European Union, decided to enter into an experiment that effectively gave us free movement with the whole of the world.”
- Nigel Farage
‘Tories squandered opportunities of Brexit,’ warns Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage has accused the Conservatives of “squandering” the opportunities of Brexit.
Speaking at a press conference in Central London, the Reform UK leader said: “The Tory Government failed to deliver on many of the economic promises of Brexit because they never actually believed in it in the first place.”
Mr Farage also took aim at Andy Burnham over the Prime Minister’s suggestion that rejoining the single market would boost the UK’s economy.
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Tories accuse PM of abandoning Makerfield over EU return
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart has accused the Prime Minister of abandoning the people of Makerfield following his latest remarks on the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Mr Burghart said: “The Prime Minister’s latest remarks are further proof that he has completely abandoned the people of Makerfield. He is devoid of any ideas for how to take this country forward.
“Rejoining the European Union will not cut the ballooning welfare bill, reduce government borrowing, fund our armed forces or help control immigration.
“The Prime Minister cannot keep looking backwards. We need a Government focused on the future, building a stronger economy and a stronger country.
“Only the Conservatives will deliver that.”
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Senior doctors’ strike action ‘hugely disappointing’, No10 says
No10 has described strike action by senior doctors as “hugely disappointing”.
The spokesman said the Government “stand ready to go work with them on legitimate concerns”.
He urged doctors to accept the offer of talks and call off the planned industrial action.
“We call on them to accept that offer and call off this irresponsible action,” the spokesman said.
The comments come amid renewed tensions between ministers and doctors over pay and working conditions.
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Brexit deal has made illegal immigration harder to control, No10 claims
No10 has claimed the Brexit deal with the EU has made it “harder not easier to control illegal immigration”.
The spokesman argued that Brexit had “weakened the UK’s ability to track illegal arrivals in the UK”.
The comments came as the Prime Minister prepares to discuss the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
No10 insisted there were currently “no options on the table” regarding the future of that relationship.
The spokesman also rejected a reporter’s suggestion that the Prime Minister was a “sore loser”.
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No10 refuses to guarantee referendum on EU return
Andy Burnham “wants to start a conversation on it in due course” and “that includes freedom of movement”, No10 has said.
The spokesman added that the Prime Minister “does not think that the Brexit deal works”.
No10 refused to guarantee that a referendum would be held on the UK’s return to the EU, saying: “The process will be set out in due course.”
The Prime Minister insisted earlier today that he would not allow the UK to join the EU’s freedom of movement arrangements without a referendum, telling a reporter: “No. And I wasn’t saying that.”
No10 said the Prime Minister was focused on next month’s EU summit, where “we will agree deals which could add billions to the economy”, before having “a conversation with the British public about what that relationship looks like”.
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Andy Burnham promises ‘permanent’ changes to homelessness in Britain
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised his pledges to tackle homelessness in Britain will be “permanent”.
Speaking at a homelessness summit in Downing Street, Mr Burnham said he will “lead from the front” to ensure homelessness is an issue taken seriously by the Labour Government.
He said: “We’re a country that doesn’t want anybody to sleep rough on the streets every night. We are better than that. We can fix this.
“So today is about ‘how are we going to do it?’, and I promise you, I will lead from the front. And the first thing I can say to you, which I hope makes it feel a little different, is that for as long as I’m here, and as long as this Government is in position, this will be permanent.
“This isn’t an initiative that you’re used to seeing that comes and goes, and then you’re left thinking, ‘what was all that about?’, this is a permanent drive similar to the one we saw in the 2000s.”
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Angela Rayner announces extra £432million in funding to tackle homelessness
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has announced an extra £432million in Labour funding to help tackle Britain’s homelessness.
Speaking at a homelessness summit in Downing Street, Ms Rayner said: “As announced today, we’re backing this with an extra £432million from next year to take the total funding of support for the Prime Minister’s pledge to nearly £900million.
“And through this pledge, we’re giving our mayors, local authorities and sector partners the certainty that you need to keep your amazing work going in the years ahead.
“Beyond that, we are also tackling all forms of homelessness through our National Plan to End Homelessness. In total, we’re putting together over £4.4billion this Parliament, because this moral mission isn’t just for Christmas, we’re in this for the long haul.”
- Angela Rayner has said homelessness is a ‘critical issue that can no longer be ducked’
Angela Rayner delivers speech as Labour holds homelessness summit
Angela Rayner has delivered a speech in Downing Street as the Labour Government hosts a homelessness summit at No10.
Speaking to the media, the Housing Secretary said: “When it comes to rough sleeping, building council homes and empowering local communities, Andy is finishing the sentences that I used to start.
“These aren’t just moral missions, these are personal to me and Andy. And for that reason, I’ve been taken by the goodwill from across Government and the sector to come together to meet this ambition.
“Because I know that this issue is personal to all of you, too. A critical issue that can no longer be ducked.”
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Prime Minister defends rough sleeping record after Tory criticism
Andy Burnham has defended his record on tackling rough sleeping while mayor of Greater Manchester.
The Prime Minister said figures “came right down”, but the system faltered when people started travelling to the area to take advantage of the offer.
Mr Burnham suggested that his nationwide scheme will be more effective.
Asked about Tory criticism of his record, he said: “They are wrong about that because I had a 10-year drive called a bed every night, and if people look at the figures, it came right down.
“The issue was we were the only area that was offering a bed every night, so obviously people travelled to Greater Manchester.
“It’s clear to me that it only works if everywhere does it. It’s similar to the pandemic when we had everyone in.
“If everywhere does it, then you can make that difference. If areas are just doing it in isolation, then it probably isn’t going going to work.”
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Andy Burnham is hoping to ‘improve the deal we’ve got’ with the EU, Labour MP says
Labour MP Sally Jameson has argued that the UK can do “a lot better” than the current Brexit deal with the European Union, and Andy Burnham will look to “improve” the current agreement at the UK-EU summit.
Speaking to GB News, Ms Jameson said: “The Government will be setting out its 10-year plan, and in order to do that, we need to have a conversation about what our relationship with Europe is going to be.
“And we’re having a summit next month to look at what options are on the table and look to improve the deal we’ve got, because if we’re being honest, the Brexit deal we’ve got is frankly no good and we can do a lot better for our economy and for our security as well.
“And so it’s right that we have that conversation. So this is not about looking back, it’s about looking to the future. And what is our future relationship with the EU going to look like as part of our 10-year plan for the country.”
- Andrew Bowie has accused Andy Burnham of wanting to ‘open the floodgates to cheaper migration from Europe’
Tories accuse Andy Burnham of wanting to ‘open the floodgates to cheaper migration’ from Europe
Andy Burnham has been accused of wanting to “open the floodgates to cheaper migration from Europe” after admitting he is hoping for an “honest discussion” with the EU.
Speaking to GB News, Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie said the Prime Minister has “no idea” how to deal with the issues facing Britain today.
He said: “Is the Prime Minister really suggesting the best way to resolve this crisis is to open the floodgates to cheaper migration from Europe? Absolutely mad. Frankly, his priorities are all in the wrong place.
“This is a man who’s fighting the battles of 2016 with no idea of how to deal with the huge issues that we face today. We have a responsibility as legislators, as those who seek to be in Government or are in Government, to those young people who are struggling to get into the workplace.
“Everything this Government has done since they got into power through the National Insurance hike on businesses, the unemployment rights bill, everything they’ve done has worked against young people getting into the workplace.
“If now we were to open our gates to cheaper migration and workers from Europe coming in and taking those jobs, we’d see even more young people struggling to get into work. So this is completely the wrong approach. It’s wrongheaded. It’s fighting the battles of 2016, and nobody in this country wants to go back and fight those Brexit battles all over again.”
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Andy Burnham rules out an early general election
The Prime Minister has ruled out calling an early general election, arguing that Britons now want him to “get on with the job”.
Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Andy Burnham was pressed on whether he was “softening us all up for an early general election”.
The Prime Minister responded: “No, no, I’ve ruled that out. I did that before the Labour conference, because I just don’t think people want another backward looking squabble. They want me to get on with the job.”
Asked why he has “brought up rejoining the EU” if he is not seeking early election, he made clear: “We have a decade of experience now looking back at Brexit, and I don’t think it has played out as people said it would at the time.
“We got a harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum campaign. It’s weakened our economy. It’s also weakened our control of immigration.”
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Andy Burnham stands by Shabana Mahmood’s reforms to indefinite leave to remain
Andy Burnham has made clear he is standing by the reforms to the immigration system set out by Shabana Mahmood, following speculation that a political backlash could force them to be watered down.
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he was asked if he agreed with Home Secretary’s policy of extending the time it takes to secure indefinite leave to remain to 15 years from five for some migrants.
The Prime Minister said: “The Home Secretary is right, in my view, to bring forward changes that are based on the principle that settlement is a right to be earned, not just something that is granted automatically.
“And she’ll set out the final conclusion soon.”
- Richard Tice has told GB News that he and Robert Jenrick will ‘resign’ if Reform’s plan fails within 100 days
Richard Tice declares he ‘will resign’ if Reform UK plan fails within its first 100 days
Richard Tice has declared that he and Robert Jenrick will “resign” if their latest plan for Britons fails within their 100 days of a Reform UK Government.
Speaking to GB News, the deputy leader of Reform outlined the party’s plans to create 60 “job creating policies” and build “50,000 extra affordable homes”.
He said: “I’ve pledged to reduce energy bills by £250 again in the first 100 days, and Robert and I, we’ve made it very clear we’ve put our neck on the line and said if we don’t do this, then we will both resign. It’s as simple as that, and we will scrap net stupid zero, scrap all these daft regulations, get rid of GDPR, make things like energy performance certificates voluntary.
“All of these things to reduce the unnecessary burdens, the unnecessary costs on business to create jobs and growth and incentive. That’s what people want. They want an easier life. They want the state to get out of their way, frankly.
“And that’s why I urge people to look at that list of 60 excellent job creating initiatives that will come forward later today at our press conference. There’s so much for everybody within that.”
Britain returning to free movement with the EU is ‘completely mad’, Robert Jenrick says
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has branded the idea of returning to free movement with the European Union “completely mad”.
Speaking on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Treasury spokesman argued that mass migration had been a “disaster” for working Britons.
He said: “I think it’s completely mad the idea that this country needs more immigration. It’s a total mess at the moment.
“We’re trying to grapple with the Boris wave and all the challenges that we’ve had in recent times. And Andy Burnham is proposing to open our borders to another 450 million people over whom we’d have no control whatsoever.
“What would this do? Undercut the wages of British workers, put more pressure on housing, on the NHS, on doctors, on dentists, more challenges for our communities and sense of unity and cohesion in this country.”
Mr Jenrick added: “What all the data now shows is that mass migration, importing hundreds of thousands or even millions of people into this country, has been a disaster for living standards, for working people, for Brits in this country.”
Nigel Farage Sets Out Why the UK Will NEVER Vote to Rejoin the EU in Scathing Attack on Andy Burnham
Nigel Farage has launched a fresh attack on Andy Burnham over Britain’s future relationship with the European Union, insisting that the country will never vote to rejoin the bloc if the full implications of membership are explained to voters.
The Reform UK leader has seized on the Prime Minister’s recent comments about Brexit, arguing that reopening the debate risks reigniting divisions that have shaped British politics for more than a decade.
Farage believes Burnham has made a significant political mistake by suggesting that Britain could eventually return to the EU. He argues that voters who backed Brexit in 2016 did so because they wanted greater control over national laws, immigration and economic policy.
His comments came after Burnham said the current arrangements with Brussels were not good enough for Britain, while making clear that he was not proposing immediate changes or seeking to rejoin the bloc during the current parliamentary term.
The disagreement has brought Brexit back into the centre of the political debate, with questions about trade, sovereignty, immigration and Britain’s economic future once again dominating discussions in Westminster.
For Farage, the renewed debate presents an opportunity to defend the original referendum result and challenge a government he accuses of moving away from the promises made to voters.
For Burnham, the challenge is to explain how Britain can improve its relationship with Europe without ignoring the concerns of people who voted to leave.
Farage Claims Rejoining the EU Would Be Rejected
Farage has argued that public support for closer relations with Europe does not necessarily translate into support for full EU membership.
In recent comments, he said he believed a referendum on rejoining would be won comfortably by those campaigning to keep Britain outside the bloc.
He pointed to potential financial contributions, the prospect of renewed freedom of movement and questions about future European integration as issues that could influence voters.
Farage has also argued that the public has not been given a full account of what returning to the EU would involve.
His position is that voters might express support for closer European relations when asked a general question, but could take a different view when presented with specific proposals and their potential consequences.
However, his prediction remains a political argument rather than an established fact. Public opinion on Brexit has changed since the 2016 referendum, and surveys have produced different results depending on how questions are worded and which options respondents are offered.
A YouGov poll reported in October 2026 found that support for rejoining the EU exceeded opposition among respondents, although polling does not establish how people would vote in a future referendum.
Farage’s argument is therefore likely to be tested through the coming political debate rather than settled by either side’s claims.
Burnham Reopens Britain’s Brexit Debate
Burnham’s remarks have created an opportunity for opponents of closer European integration to question the government’s long-term intentions.
Speaking on television on October 26, the Prime Minister said Britain had experienced a harder form of Brexit than many voters had originally been led to expect.
He argued that the current arrangements had not delivered all the benefits promised during the referendum campaign and that the country needed to examine how its relationship with Europe could be improved.
Burnham did not announce a plan to rejoin the EU immediately. Instead, he said he would not propose changes during the current parliamentary term and would not move ahead of public opinion.
He nevertheless acknowledged that he would like Britain to be part of the European Union again within his lifetime.
Those comments have prompted renewed speculation about the long-term direction of government policy.
Farage has portrayed Burnham’s position as contradictory, arguing that the Prime Minister cannot claim to respect the referendum result while openly discussing the possibility of reversing it.
Burnham’s supporters, however, argue that acknowledging problems with the existing arrangements is not the same as demanding immediate EU membership.
The distinction is important because closer cooperation can take several forms, ranging from sector-specific agreements to a customs arrangement, closer participation in the single market or full membership.
Each option would carry different economic and political consequences.
The Question of Sovereignty
For Farage and many other Brexit supporters, sovereignty remains one of the central reasons Britain should stay outside the European Union.
They argue that membership involves accepting common rules and institutions that can limit the freedom of national governments to act independently in certain areas.
From this perspective, leaving the EU gave Britain the opportunity to make its own decisions on regulation, trade and immigration, even if the benefits have not always been delivered as expected.
Farage has repeatedly maintained that the failure to achieve some of the promises associated with Brexit reflects decisions made by successive governments rather than an inherent failure of leaving the bloc.
He argues that Britain should make better use of its independence instead of seeking to reverse the decision.
Supporters of closer European integration take a different view.
They argue that formal sovereignty does not always translate into practical influence, particularly when Britain must follow rules established by a major trading partner to maintain access to its market.
Under this argument, closer alignment with Europe could reduce barriers for British businesses and strengthen the country’s ability to cooperate with neighbouring states on security, trade and international challenges.
The disagreement is therefore not simply about whether Britain should be independent. It is about how independence should be measured and what arrangements would best serve the country’s economic and political interests.
Immigration Returns to the Centre of the Argument
Immigration is another major issue in the renewed dispute.
Farage argues that Brexit was intended to give Britain greater control over its borders and reduce the country’s reliance on European free movement arrangements.
He has criticised suggestions that Britain might eventually return to a system allowing citizens of EU member states to live and work in the UK under common rules.
For many Brexit supporters, freedom of movement was one of the most contentious features of EU membership. They believed leaving the bloc would allow the government to establish a more independent immigration system.
Burnham has offered a different interpretation of the current situation.
He has argued that the existing arrangements have not necessarily given Britain the level of control that voters were promised, particularly regarding the return of people who have no right to remain in the country.
His comments suggest that the government wants to examine whether a different relationship with Europe could help address practical problems in immigration enforcement.
However, rejoining the EU would not automatically resolve every issue associated with asylum applications or irregular migration. Those problems also involve domestic administration, international agreements, border enforcement and cooperation with countries outside the bloc.
The debate is likely to remain politically sensitive because voters may support different approaches to legal migration, asylum policy and border security.
Economic Consequences Remain Disputed
The economic effects of Brexit have also become central to the argument.
Supporters of leaving the EU point to Britain’s ability to establish its own trade arrangements and regulatory policies. They argue that the country should focus on using those powers to attract investment, support domestic industries and develop new commercial relationships.
Critics of Brexit argue that leaving the single market and customs union increased barriers to trade with Britain’s largest nearby economic partner.
Research from several economic organisations has suggested that Brexit has reduced trade intensity and investment compared with a scenario in which the UK remained in the EU. However, estimates vary, and the precise scale of the long-term effects remains contested.
Farage argues that successive governments have failed to use Brexit effectively. He believes the answer is to pursue a more ambitious independent economic strategy rather than return to European institutions.
Those who favour closer ties argue that reducing trade friction with the EU could help businesses facing additional paperwork, costs and regulatory differences.
The choice is complicated because different arrangements would involve different trade-offs. A customs union could reduce certain barriers while limiting Britain’s ability to negotiate independent tariffs. Single-market participation could improve access to European markets but would require acceptance of common rules in relevant areas.
Full EU membership would involve a much broader set of commitments.
Any government proposing a change would therefore need to explain not only the potential benefits but also the obligations and compromises involved.
Could Brexit Decide the Next Election?
Farage has welcomed the possibility of making Britain’s relationship with Europe a major election issue.
He believes the subject could unite voters who disagree on other matters but share a commitment to keeping Britain outside the EU.
His political argument is that the 2016 referendum established a clear democratic mandate and that reversing the decision would require another explicit public vote.
Burnham has also said that he would not seek to move ahead of public opinion. He has not announced an immediate referendum or committed the government to rejoining the bloc during the current parliamentary term.
The debate could nevertheless become an important test of public confidence in the government’s economic strategy.
Voters may assess the issue through several competing priorities: the cost of living, employment, immigration, trade, national independence and the ability of the government to deliver public services.
For some, closer ties with Europe may appear to offer a route towards stronger economic growth. For others, the possibility of renewed EU membership may raise concerns about democratic accountability and the return of policies they rejected in 2016.
Neither political camp can assume that the public will respond in a single way.
The Battle Over Britain’s Future Continues
Farage’s latest intervention demonstrates that Brexit remains a defining issue in British politics, even as the country faces challenges involving economic growth, public finances, immigration and international security.
His warning that Britain will never vote to rejoin the EU is a confident political prediction, not a certainty about how future voters will behave.
Burnham’s position, meanwhile, leaves room for further debate about the relationship Britain should seek with its European neighbours.
The two leaders are presenting different interpretations of the same national decision. Farage argues that Brexit must be defended and its opportunities pursued. Burnham argues that the existing arrangements can be improved and that Britain should not rule out every long-term option.
The debate will ultimately depend on evidence, policy detail and public opinion rather than declarations from either side.
For now, the prospect of EU re-entry remains a contested political possibility rather than an immediate government plan. What happens next will depend on how the government develops its proposals, how European leaders respond and whether voters believe closer cooperation would improve their lives.
One thing is clear: Britain’s argument over Brexit is far from over, and Farage intends to make sure that any attempt to reopen the question faces a determined challenge.