𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Shabana Mahmood is terrified left-wing MPs could thwart her migrant crackdown as they exploit Labour’s leadership crisis, Chris Philp has warned.

The Shadow Home Secretary warned watering down settlement rights reforms will “open the door to millions of low paid or unemployed immigrants from outside Europe to stay in the UK forever”.

The comments sparked an extraordinary row, with sources close to the Home Secretary accusing Mr Philp of not understanding “immigration policy”.

Stressing that the rules governing indefinite leave to remain (ILR) can be altered by changing immigration rules, an aide added changes will be introduced later this year.

Mr Philp said: “Last autumn Shabana Mahmood announced her new ILR plans with great fanfare and acclaim. But in last week’s King’s speech we heard nothing about it.

“Shabana is evidently too terrified of Labour backbenchers to implement her own plans.

“This will open the door to millions of low paid or unemployed immigrants from outside Europe to stay in the UK forever – and get full access to benefits.

“The Conservatives have a tough plan to ensure only those earning high wages get to stay – and the rest will have to leave the UK.

“But it seems the Government is too scared donors own left-wing open-borders MPs to do anything to protect our borders.

Home Secretary Ms Mahmood is facing a growing revolt from health groups, trade unions and left-wing MPs over her plans to change settlement rules.

Overseas nationals face a 10-year wait to apply for indefinite leave to remain, double the current five years.

Foreign nationals who arrived in the so-called ‘Boris Wave’ face a 10 to 15-year wait to apply for indefinite leave to remain amid fears over an influx of low-skilled workers, particularly on the abused Health and Social Care Visa in the early part of this decade.

And migrants could be barred from claiming benefits unless they become British citizens.

Ms Mahmood said those relying on handouts must wait 20 to 30 years to receive indefinite leave to remain.

Arrivals applying for indefinite leave to remain after 10 years must have no criminal record, speak English to A-level standards and have no debt, under Labour’s new proposals.

But one of Labour’s leadership contenders, Angela Rayner, has described plans to make migrants wait longer as “un-British”.

And union chiefs are mounting opposition to the plans.

A spokesman for Home Secretary Ms Mahmood claimed the Tories “clearly don’t understand immigration policy”.

He added: “ILR changes don’t require legislation.

“They are done via immigration rule changes.”