.svg)
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is facing growing pressure from fellow government ministers to provide more information about the potential consequences of planned changes to the UK’s immigration and asylum systems.
The disagreement centres on concerns that the reforms could increase homelessness and rough sleeping, while creating additional pressure on local authorities and essential services.
According to sources cited by The Guardian, ministers from other departments have repeatedly sought details about the Home Office’s assessment of how many people could be affected. They are particularly concerned about the possible impact on the government’s efforts to reduce homelessness.
Allies of Mahmood say the full effects cannot yet be calculated because important details of the proposed system have not been finalised. They maintain that the arrangements will be designed to reduce the risk of destitution and homelessness.
A Home Office spokesperson said the policy had gone through the usual cross-government approval process, with information shared through formal procedures.
The department also rejected suggestions that ending the use of asylum hotels would leave people without accommodation. It said people would be moved into more suitable housing and that reforms had already saved taxpayers more than £1bn since the election.
However, concerns remain among ministers responsible for housing and homelessness services.
The Home Office's impact assessment, published in October, acknowledged that the proposed changes could create financial difficulties for some individuals.
It warned that if repayment requirements significantly reduced people's disposable income, some could experience hardship or destitution. This could increase demand for homelessness services and rough-sleeping support, placing additional financial pressure on local councils.
The disagreement reportedly began when ministers Ali McGovern and Miatta Fahnbulleh sought further information while serving in government under Keir Starmer.
They were supported by the then housing secretary, Steve Reed, who was also concerned that changes to asylum accommodation could increase the number of people sleeping rough.
The ministers reportedly feared that moving asylum seekers out of hotels could make it harder for the government to achieve its target of halving rough sleeping by the end of the parliamentary term.
A planned formal request for further information was not sent after Fahnbulleh resigned from government, according to sources quoted in the report.
The issue has continued to create tension within government, particularly as ministers work towards a wider plan to reduce rough sleeping.
Sources say Angela Rayner, who succeeded Reed as housing secretary, is seeking further details about the possible consequences of Mahmood's proposals.
One concern is that moving asylum seekers from hotels into houses of multiple occupation could trigger renewed opposition and protests in some communities.
Rayner has also raised concerns about proposed changes to legal migration rules. She has argued that care workers should be exempt from measures that could make it more difficult for some migrant workers to obtain settled status.
There are concerns that tighter immigration rules could contribute to staff shortages in the care sector if workers leave the UK or decide not to remain.
The future of care workers under the proposed immigration changes is expected to be discussed in a series of meetings involving senior ministers over the coming days.
Andy Burnham has previously considered intervention to protect the care workforce from a sudden loss of migrant staff, according to reports.
A government source said the Prime Minister supports Mahmood but also wants ministers to examine the details and ensure that affected sectors receive the necessary support.
The discussions highlight the challenges facing the government as it seeks to reform the asylum system while addressing concerns about housing, homelessness, public services and staffing shortages.
The final arrangements are expected to depend on further discussions between departments, with ministers seeking greater clarity about the practical effects of the proposed changes.
.jpg)
