Rayner Says No Cabinet Split Over Immigration Crackdown

Angela Rayner has rejected any suggestion of a split within the cabinet hours after she openly criticised Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans.

The housing, communities and local government secretary condemned the home secretary for “changing the goalposts” and making it harder for foreign social care workers to live in the UK permanently.

Mahmood has increased the amount of time foreign social care workers need to spend in the UK from five years to 15 years for everyone who has come to the UK since 2021.

Speaking to The Times shortly before the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Rayner said she stood by her previous criticisms that these changes are “un-British”.

Rayner said: “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.

“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.”

However, Rayner told Sky News’ Sunday Morning show that Mahmood had a consultation on the transitional arrangements.

“She’s been really clear we have to have a fair system that is fair for people who contribute today and for the people who come to this country to contribute,” the minister said.

“I have absolute support for Shabana in that and I’m sure she’ll come to a good conclusion on that.”

She added: “We’re all united. We’ve seen on illegal migration those figures coming down so I think she’s doing a fantastic job, so there’s no split story there unfortunately.”

Asked by host Kate McCann if “collective responsibility is dead”, Rayner said: “No. The prime minister was clear, we are going to do politics differently. And that means reaching out to other politicians as well, having that conversation.”

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