{"id":706481,"date":"2026-07-23T04:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T04:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/706481\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T04:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T04:38:14","slug":"mike-tapp-leaves-role-as-migration-minister-weeks-after-mahmood-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/706481\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Tapp leaves role as migration minister weeks after Mahmood row"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p>Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n<p>Mike Tapp has confirmed his departure as Home Office minister for migration, expressing disappointment but reaffirming his &#8220;loyalty to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/keir-starmer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keir Starmer<\/a> until the end&#8221; amidst reports of internal government friction.<\/p>\n<p>The junior minister&#8217;s exit follows a public disagreement with Home Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/shabana-mahmood\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shabana Mahmood<\/a> towards the end of Sir Keir\u2019s initial tenure. <\/p>\n<p>Mr Tapp had reportedly suggested exempting care workers from Ms Mahmood\u2019s proposed indefinite leave to remain (ILR) reforms, sparking a dispute. <\/p>\n<p>Sir Keir resisted calls from the home secretary to dismiss Mr Tapp at the time, with Downing Street issuing a rebuke to both ministers involved in the row.<\/p>\n<p>Announcing his departure on X, in a post signed off with three Union flags, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/mp\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MP<\/a> for Dover and Deal stated: &#8220;I am no longer the Minister for Migration and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/citizenship\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Citizenship<\/a> where I was predominantly overseeing our legal migration system.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>He added: &#8220;I am disappointed to be leaving government, but I have no regrets remaining loyal to Keir Starmer until the end.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Tapp emphasised his guiding principles, asserting: &#8220;For me, service has always meant putting the country first, and I\u2019m proud to have approached the role with that principle at its heart.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PA-76125233.jpeg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mr Tapp sitting with Keir Starmer\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/>Mr Tapp sitting with Keir Starmer (PA)<\/p>\n<p>He continued: &#8220;Every decision I made in the Home Office began with my top priority: our national security.&#8221; He also articulated his vision for the system, stating: &#8220;Our immigration system is also about people. That is why compassion must sit alongside firmness, striking the right balance to protect our country, support our economy, and uphold confidence in the system.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Among his achievements, he cited &#8220;delivering the massive Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, to visa pauses and improving the Windrush Compensation Scheme,&#8221; adding that &#8220;it has been truly satisfying to play a part in strengthening our immigration system.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite acknowledging that &#8220;net migration is falling, there is still much more to do,&#8221; Mr Tapp pledged to continue contributing to Parliament, stating: &#8220;I will always put my country first and that is why I will continue to bring my experience from my time working at the highest levels of national security to Parliament.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>He concluded by expressing his belief that &#8220;This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/labour\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Labour<\/a> Government must succeed \u2013 for the good of our country. I will be working every single day to help deliver for the British people,&#8221; and extended his gratitude, saying: &#8220;Thank you to my Private Office and Home Office officials who have worked hard with me to make progress.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>He also wished his successor &#8220;the very best of luck.&#8221; Downing Street has yet to announce who will take over the migration portfolio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":706482,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-706481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=706481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/706482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=706481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=706481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=706481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}