Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce plans moving asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as the Government intensifies its immigration policy. The newly appointed minister will reportedly reveal the use of Ministry of Defence sites to accommodate migrants following summer protests outside existing accommodation facilities.
The magnitude of the immigration challenge became evident on Saturday when approximately 1,000 people reached the UK by small boat within a single day. This figure illustrates the scale of cross-Channel arrivals that Mahmood now faces in her new role overseeing borders and asylum policy.
Dozens of asylum hotels are set to close after becoming centres of recent demonstrations and protests. The accommodation sites had drawn significant opposition from local communities during the summer months.
Returns agreement progress
Ministers are reportedly nearing completion of a returns agreement with Germany, building on an existing deal with France, according to the Daily Telegraph. A Government source stated "nothing is off the table" for Mahmood as she takes control of her new portfolio.
The Home Secretary has previously indicated openness to examining European Convention on Human Rights reform within domestic legislation. These developments follow Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's (Labour) major reshuffle aimed at strengthening immigration control after Angela Rayner's resignation.
Cabinet reshuffle details
The Home Office experienced extensive personnel changes as part of the wider Government reorganisation. Former borders minister Dame Angela Eagle and former policing minister Dame Diana Johnson were transferred to different departments.
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been appointed Foreign Secretary in the shake-up. Sarah Jones, previously industry minister, will assume the policing minister role alongside Dover MP Mike Tapp and Alex Norris in Mahmood's reconstituted team.
Leadership defends changes
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones dismissed suggestions that the Government faces crisis and maintained that Starmer now has the "strongest team" around the Cabinet table. He rejected opposition claims that the reshuffle could create Labour divisions or undermine the Prime Minister's authority.
Jones ruled out any prospect of an early election despite the significant personnel changes. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said "It's not instability insofar as the outcomes that we're delivering are the same" regarding concerns about disruption to Government plans.
He denied that Cooper's departure from the Home Office reflected failure in controlling immigration, describing her as "brilliant" for her new diplomatic role. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster emphasised continuity in Government objectives despite the ministerial moves.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Telegraph" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
