Andy Burnham is playing us for fools over immigration - he's picked the wrong side

Andy Burnham is desperately trying to paper over huge divisions within his government over immigration. In his latest effort, he said he strongly supports the idea that indefinite leave to remain - a status that gives migrants almost the same rights as a full British citizen, including the right to claim benefits - is a “right to be earned”. But stopped short of backing all of the changes proposed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. There’s a reason for that. Many members of Mr Burnham’s government, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and, it seems, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, are opposed to the policy. Under the planned changes, the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also known as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) is being doubled from five to ten years - and the change is retrospective. In other words, people who have been here legally for years, possibly working and paying taxes, will now have to wait five years longer than expected before they gain the right to live here permanently. Some people will even need to wait 15 years, while others might have the process speeded up if they can show that they have contributed to British society. But earlier this year, around 100 Labour MPs, a quarter of the Parliamentary Labour Party, sent a letter demanding the Home Secretary scrap her plans. Ms Rayner has publicly attacked the scheme. And Ms Fahnbulleh hit out at any attempt to “prolong the time people have to wait for settlement” in a later-deleted online post. The Government’s current position is that Ms Mahmood was merely suggesting some changes to start a consultation. There is no split, we are told, because there is no firm policy - just a debate where people can express their views. But this is nonsense. Ms Mahmood made it clear previously that she thought the changes were essential. She has warned that without the change, more than 1.6 million migrants will become eligible for the status, also known as settlement, allowing them to claim benefits and use public services in a similar way to British citizens. Now, it has emerged that the Home Secretary is in talks with the Prime Minister about watering down the reforms. But this isn’t because she wants to. It’s because no Cabinet Minister could go ahead with such a controversial policy without the clear backing of Cabinet colleagues - and, most of all, the backing of the PM. However, asked if he would commit to sticking to the plans, the Prime Minister said: “We’re in a position where we’ve been consulting on those reforms, and we will come forward with our decisions soon. “But I strongly support the Home Secretary when she says that settlement is a right to be earned through contribution, and that will be the principle that guides our reforms.” In other words, he failed to give a clear answer. But without a clear statement from the Prime Minister, it’s hard to see how the policy can survive. In the battle between his Home Secretary and left-wing rebel Labour MPs over immigration, Mr Burnham has chosen to side with the rebels.