Energy Secretary Fahnbulleh Voices Concern Over Mahmood’s Settlement Reforms, Exposing Cabinet Divisions on Migration

LONDON – British Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh appears to have criticised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms, suggesting in a post on her constituency website that a longer path to permanent settlement could hinder the integration of migrants into British communities.

The remarks are being seen as a sign of deepening divisions within Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Cabinet over immigration policy. Ms. Mahmood plans to extend the period foreign nationals must live in the United Kingdom before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain from five years to 15 years.

In the post addressed to her constituents in Peckham, south London, Ms. Fahnbulleh warned that lengthening the wait for settlement threatened the process of building community cohesion. She described the political debate on immigration as having become increasingly depressing and toxic, and called for discussion of the issue to be conducted with care, control and compassion.

“Ultimately, I want to see a system based on control and compassion, with a much stronger focus on integration,” the Energy Secretary wrote. She also said the asylum process was broken and in need of reform, and pointed to Peckham as an example of successful community building, urging politicians to challenge divisive rhetoric.

Allies of Ms. Fahnbulleh said the post had been written on her behalf by her team to provide constituents with an account of a town hall meeting she attended on 25 September.

Ms. Fahnbulleh, the Labour MP for Peckham, was appointed Energy Secretary after her predecessor, Ed Miliband, was promoted to Foreign Secretary. She becomes the latest senior figure to raise concerns about the plans, following criticism from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. Andrea Egan, general secretary of the trade union Unison, has also accused Ms. Mahmood of fuelling the far right through the crackdown on settlement rights.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Ms. Mahmood signalled that she may soften the reforms, saying she would arrive at a position that balanced fairness.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government had announced reforms under which settlement must be earned rather than automatic, and that it was currently considering responses to its consultation on elements of those reforms.