Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as the Government seeks to harden its immigration policy. The newly appointed Home Secretary will reportedly announce the use of Ministry of Defence sites to house migrants after protests outside migrant accommodation over the summer.
The scale of the challenge facing Mahmood became clear on Saturday when an estimated 1,000 people arrived in the UK by small boat in a single day. Dozens of asylum hotels are expected to close after they became focal points for several demonstrations during recent months.
Returns deal progress
Ministers are reportedly close to agreeing a returns deal with Germany, having already secured one with France, according to the Daily Telegraph. The announcement comes as part of the Prime Minister's efforts to tighten immigration controls following Angela Rayner's resignation.
One Government source said "nothing is off the table" for Mahmood as she assumes her new brief. She has previously signalled willingness to look at reform of the European Convention on Human Rights within domestic law.
Major reshuffle changes
The barracks plan follows a major reshuffle including wide-ranging changes at the Home Office. Former borders minister Dame Angela Eagle and former policing minister Dame Diana Johnson were moved to other departments in the clear-out.
Former home secretary Yvette Cooper has become Foreign Secretary as part of the shake-up. Former industry minister Sarah Jones will become policing minister, joining Mike Tapp, the Dover MP from Labour's 2024 intake, and Alex Norris in Mahmood's new team.
Government defends changes
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones denied that the Government was in crisis following the changes. He insisted Sir Keir Starmer now has the "strongest team" in place around the Cabinet table following Rayner's departure.
Jones ruled out the prospect of an early election amid opposition claims that the upheaval could split Labour and collapse the Prime Minister's authority. "It's not instability insofar as the outcomes that we're delivering are the same," Jones told BBC Breakfast on Saturday.
He rejected suggestions that Cooper had been moved from the Home Office because she was failing to control immigration. Jones added she would be "brilliant" in her new role as the UK's top diplomat.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Telegraph" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
