# Mahmood hits back at immigration reform critics

> The home secretary defends her controversial plan as Labour questions whether she has done enough to settle internal party divisions.
- Title: Mahmood hits back at immigration reform critics · POLITICO
- Summary: The home secretary defends her controversial plan as Labour questions whether she has done enough to settle internal party divisions. Home Secretary Shabana…
- Keywords: shabana mahmood, home secretary, immigration reforms, labour party, angela rayner, cabinet unity, politics, world, Mahmood, hits, back, immigration
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/podcast/politics-at-sam-and-annes/shabana-mahmood-her-fightback-kicks-off
- Published: 2026-11-03T08:21:43+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shabana mahmood, home secretary, immigration reforms, labour party, angela rayner, cabinet unity, politics, world
## Mahmood defends her immigration plan
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood came out swinging after critics claimed she had made a climbdown over her controversial immigration reforms.
## What survives of the original plan
Questions remain about what remains from Mahmood's original immigration proposal and whether the rest of the cabinet, including Angela Rayner, backs it.
## Has she settled Labour's internal row
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine whether Mahmood has done enough to quash the internal arguments within Labour over the reforms.
## Key takeaway

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended her immigration reforms after critics claimed she had made a climbdown, but questions remain about cabinet unity.