Mahmood moves asylum seekers from hotels to barracks

Newly appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood leaves 10 Downing Street, London (James Manning/PA) James Manning

Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as the Government seeks to harden its immigration policy. The newly appointed Home Secretary will reportedly announce the use of Ministry of Defence sites to house people following summer protests outside migrant accommodation facilities.

The scale of the challenge facing the former justice secretary became evident on Saturday when an estimated 1,000 people arrived in the UK by small boat over the course of the day. This figure illustrates the magnitude of cross-Channel arrivals that Mahmood now confronts in her new borders and asylum policy brief.

Dozens of asylum hotels are expected to close after becoming focal points of demonstrations in recent months. The accommodation sites had drawn significant opposition from local communities during the summer period.

Policy expansion plans

Ministers are reportedly close to agreeing a returns deal with Germany, building on an existing agreement with France, according to the Daily Telegraph. A Government source stated "nothing is off the table" for Mahmood as she assumes responsibility for immigration control.

The Home Secretary has previously signalled willingness to examine reform of the European Convention on Human Rights within domestic legislation. These developments follow Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's (Labour) major reshuffle aimed at tightening immigration control after Angela Rayner's resignation.

Home Office restructure

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 in the clear-out.

Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been appointed Foreign Secretary in the shake-up. Former industry minister Sarah Jones will assume the policing minister role alongside Dover MP Mike Tapp from Labour's 2024 intake and Alex Norris in Mahmood's reconstituted team.

Government 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 ruled out prospects of an early election despite opposition claims that upheaval could create Labour divisions.

Jones rejected suggestions that the reshuffle could delay the Prime Minister's self-described "phase two" of Government. Speaking to broadcasters on Saturday, he said "It's not instability insofar as the outcomes that we're delivering are the same" regarding concerns about disruption.

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.