"Looking at Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet reshuffle it appears that he came to believe that he had all the right ministers at the cabinet table - just sitting in the wrong chairs. The most significant change is the appointment of Shabana Mahmood as home secretary, which is intended as a clear signal that dealing with illegal immigration and asylum is one of the government's biggest priorities."
"There was particular frustration at Reform UK's ability to drive the narrative on the issue over the summer even when the government had achievements to herald, including its "one in one out" agreement with France. Mahmood has a reputation among Labour MPs as (relatively-speaking, in Labour terms) a hardliner on immigration. "She's really right-wing on this stuff," one Labour figure who knows her well said."
"In practical terms, though, what different policies will Mahmood pursue? That's not so clear. At the weekend John Healey, the defence secretary, said the government was looking at expanding the use of military sites to house asylum seekers instead of hotels. That was in the works before the reshuffle. It may be that Mahmood seeks to accelerate the timetable for closing hotels."
Sir Keir Starmer shifted ministers into new roles rather than replacing them to refocus government priorities on illegal immigration and asylum. Shabana Mahmood’s appointment as home secretary is intended to signal tougher action on immigration. Some senior figures believed former home secretary Yvette Cooper moved too slowly to meet public opinion. The government faced frustration that Reform UK set the summer narrative despite measures such as a “one in one out” agreement with France. Mahmood is seen by many Labour MPs as relatively hardline. Ministers are considering using military sites to house asylum seekers, accelerating hotel closures, and debating withdrawal from the ECHR to ease deportations.
Read at www.bbc.com
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