Immigration minister says he ‘won’t be intimidated’ to drop his views as public row with home secretary escalates – UK politics live

From 48m agoMike Tapp says he 'won't be intimidated' to 'drop his views' over unsanctioned articleIn response to the ongoing controversy, immigration minister Mike Tapp, who was a strong backer of Keir Starmer, wrote in a post on X this morning:

double quotation markOk, morning all. It’s gone from ‘he broke the ministerial code’ to ‘he stole my idea’.

I have put my views across on a policy I’ve been working on for months (I have the receipts) in an Op Ed in the times. Give it a read, and let’s continue to discuss.

I won’t be intimidated to drop my views. Stay classy! Oh and I’m at a wedding in San Francisco, but happy to talk more when I’m back (I promise that’s the Golden Gate Bridge hidden by the fog).

Mike Tapp, the immigration minister, wrote an article for the Times about migrant care workers without Shabana Mahmood’s knowledge. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesKey events48m agoMike Tapp says he 'won't be intimidated' to 'drop his views' over unsanctioned article1h agoMinister not 'wise' to write unauthorised article about home secretary's immigration reforms - whip2h agoHome Office planning to use more military bases to house asylum seekersMy colleagues Rajeev Syal and Pippa Crerar have some more detail in this story on the extraordinary standoff between Shabana Mahmood and Keir Starmer after Downing Street refused to immediately sack Mike Tapp.It is being seen as a test of Starmer’s authority which has been massively drained since he announced his resignation on Monday, paving the way for the former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to likely replace him as Labour leader and prime minister.