UK: Andy Burnham votes for immigration bill as 14 Labour MPs rebel

Government's claimed record

Mahmood claimed that Labour has increased smuggler arrests by 55 per cent since taking office, that asylum decisions are at their highest in 24 years, and deportations are at their highest in nearly a decade. She also reported that the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has fallen by approximately 30 per cent.

Dissent and opposition

Among the 14 Labour MPs voting against it, Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, argued that the bill would not solve the problems cited. Stella Creasy criticised the 'core protection route', a mechanism in the bill providing for reassessment of protected persons' status every 30 months, which she views as creating legal uncertainty.

Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, attributed the high number of appeals to poor initial decisions by the Home Office rather than to the appeals system itself.

The Conservatives also voted against, but for opposite reasons: they argue the bill does not go far enough. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp's amendment, proposing UK withdrawal from the ECHR, was rejected.

Context: succession race

The Labour Party has governed the United Kingdom since July 5, 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on June 22, 2026; on July 13, 2026, he was in Paris for official farewells.

On the same day, 27 additional Labour MPs joined Andy Burnham's camp, making his designation as head of government practically inevitable.

This vote illustrates the tension Burnham will need to manage: balancing demands for stricter border controls with the expectations of Labour's progressive wing on immigration.

Timeline

1. July 5, 2024
   Labour wins the general election; Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
2. June 22, 2026
   Keir Starmer announces his resignation, triggering a race to succeed him at the head of Labour.
3. July 13, 2026 (morning)
   Twenty-seven additional Labour MPs join Andy Burnham's camp, making his designation as Prime Minister practically inevitable. Starmer is in Paris for official farewells.
4. July 13, 2026 (House of Commons)
   The immigration and asylum bill passes second reading 264 to 90. Burnham votes for; 14 Labour MPs vote against.

What remains uncertain

The next legislative steps for the bill—its examination by the House of Lords and the timetable for enactment—are not detailed in available information. The date when Burnham would officially take office as Prime Minister also remains unclear at this stage.

The figures cited by Mahmood regarding smuggler arrests, deportations, and hotel placements are government claims; their independent verification does not appear in the sources consulted.

FAQ

19 August 2026 at 04:33

18 August 2026 at 06:06