Andy Burnham is considering watering down plans to implement the Home Secretary’s hardline immigration reforms, according to allies — a move that could deepen unease among the Labour left as the leadership contest heats up.
Under Shabana Mahmood’s proposals, the time it takes for most migrant workers to qualify for permanent residence would double from five years to 10, and would apply retrospectively, meaning those already in the UK might have to wait longer than expected. But Burnham, whose path to Downing Street appeared to open after Wes Streeting backed him on 22 June, is now weighing softer rules, just days before nominations close on 9 July.
“Burnham considers softening Mahmood's immigration plan as left-wing MPs worry about his leadership.”
Two potential rivals have emerged in the rumour mill: Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Al Carns, the former armed forces minister who resigned earlier this month over the Defence Investment Plan. Neither has confirmed a run. One MP loyal to Jones said Burnham has “such a head of steam behind him” that contesting will be difficult. Carns has not ruled himself out.
Meanwhile, the Socialist Campaign Group, a caucus of left-wing MPs founded in 1982 after Tony Benn’s deputy leadership bid, is watching Burnham’s choices warily. Briefings that he would keep Mahmood as Home Secretary have gone down poorly among the Labour left, who oppose her immigration reforms. Members are also concerned about the prospect of Josh Simons, Burnham’s predecessor as Makerfield MP, being given a formal role. Simons resigned as a minister after stories broke about a think tank, Labour Together, investigating journalists who published stories about its donations while he ran it. One source described the idea of his being brought on board as a “bugbear” for the SCG.
The SCG has yet to announce whether it will field a candidate against Burnham in the 2026 leadership election. But with 81 MP nominations required to get on the ballot and the group boasting only around 30 members, the odds are steep. After last year’s deputy leadership election, in which the group’s candidate Bell Ribeiro-Addy failed to breach the threshold, there is an internal acknowledgement that getting a candidate on the ballot paper would be difficult.
Still, nominations do not close until 9 July — leaving time for a left-wing challenger to emerge, or for other wings of the party to coalesce behind Jones or Carns. The question now is whether Burnham’s immigration pivot will win over enough MPs to prevent a contest at all.