Brexit had 'very significant impact' on UK's ability to control migration, Mahmood says
Brexit has had a "very significant impact" on the UK's ability to manage migration, Shabana Mahmood has told Sky News - but she suggests she can improve the situation in this parliament without returning to free movement. <p>The home secretary was giving her first interview since Andy Burnham re-opened the debate on EU freedom of movement.</p><p><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-budget-healey-burnham-labour-badenoch-farage-davey-12593360" target="_self"><strong>Politics blog - follow latest</strong></a></p><p>"Once we came out of the European Union, we of course lost access to databases that were EU wide, that helped you work out a person's movement throughout the European Union.</p><p>"It's had a very significant impact on us and our ability to manage migration into this country," she told our <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/author/sam-coates-763" target="_blank">deputy political editor Sam Coates</a>.</strong></p><widget id="3"></widget> <widget id="4"></widget><p>But, she added that she has "been in negotiations with my EU counterparts to think about how we might collaborate on migration policy, and data sharing is absolutely critical to that".</p><p>Mahmood said Burnham was "right" to "start a national conversation" about Brexit, but added: "There will be no change in this parliament because we will abide by the manifesto we put before the British public, which said no return to free movement."</p><p><strong>More from Sky News:<br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/two-teens-arrested-on-suspicion-of-attempted-murder-after-five-boys-stabbed-at-halloween-party-13607234" target="_self">Two teens arrested over Halloween stabbing</a></strong><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/fifa-to-partially-release-documents-relating-to-world-cup-sell-off-plan-13605768" target="_self"><strong>Development in FIFA World Cup sell-off plan</strong></a><br /><br />On her reforms to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) announced on Monday, she added that the entire cabinet is behind the reforms - despite ministers like Angela Rayner previously criticising them.</p><p>"This is the government position.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
Sky reports Mahmood's claim that the whole cabinet now backs her settlement reforms despite Angela Rayner's earlier criticism. It never says that she rowed back on parts of the plans, including the 15-year wait for lower-paid workers, after pressure from cabinet colleagues and a threatened backbench rebellion. Without this, a reader may think the critics simply fell into line behind an unchanged plan.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“Shabana Mahmood has watered down some of last year’s immigration plans after a backlash from enraged backbench Labour MPs and some of her cabinet colleagues.”How will UK immigration rules change under Shabana Mahmood’s latest plans? (opens in a new tab)
- Daily Mirror reported“Shabana Mahmood dramatically rowed back on controversial plans to hit migrant care workers with draconian new rules”Victory for care workers as Shabana Mahmood unveils biggest migration overhaul in a generation (opens in a new tab)
There is only one government position, and that is what all government ministers are required to abide by."</p><p>Asked whether she was uncomfortable with the over 500,000 settlements forecast for 2028, she said: "Well, I mean, that's the legacy of the last Conservative government."</p>
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