Cabinet reshuffle live: Harman says ‘there is a way back’ for Rayner after resignation in tax scandal – UK Times

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood will deliver a “tough message” on immigration as she looks to regain control of the narrative following a summer of unrest, sources have claimed.

The former justice minister took over from Yvette Cooper today after the resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner triggered a major cabinet reshuffle from Sir Keir Starmer.

Sources have told The Telegraph that Ms Mahmood is expected to take a more hardline approach to the small boat crossings than her predecessor.

“She has coped with the prison crisis pretty well without a drastic kind of backlash. Now it’s about getting Shabana in that position to try to claw back some of the ground that Labour has lost on immigration,” said a source.

“She will be able to deliver some tough messages around immigration because of her Pakistani heritage, which Yvette Cooper might have found much harder.”

A teenage Reform UK council leader has called sixth form a “complete joke” and said it only helps young people develop a “woke mindset”.

George Finch, the 19-year-old leader of Warwickshire County Council, called for more hands-on courses at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham.

“The education system is broken. I’m probably one of the closest to being in school (on this panel) and being in sixth forms and universities.

“It’s a joke. It’s a complete joke. Sixth forms you’re meant to develop your learning from GCSEs – you don’t develop anything.

“The only thing you do develop is a woke mindset.

“You’re not allowed to question what’s going on. You’re not allowed to question the way you think. You’re just told to think a certain way.

“So in our politics classes, it was why I always asked – it was very simple – why so accepting? Why are we so accepting of the things that are happening?”

Reform UK’s newly-appointed head of policy has praised Tommy Robinson’s campaigning on grooming gangs, but has repeated that he will not be allowed to join the party.

Zia Yusuf, Reform’s former chairman, told a fringe event at the party’s conference at the NEC in Birmingham that he recognised Mr Robinson’s activism.

Mr Yusuf was announced as the party’s new head of policy by Nigel Farage on the first day of the two-day conference on Friday.

Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who founded the English Defence League (EDL) has previously been jailed for contempt of court after repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel.

In 2019, he also served time in prison for putting grooming trials in Huddersfield at risk by breaking reporting restrictions that were in place to ensure the proceedings were fair.

Speaking to Spectator editor and former education secretary Michael Gove at an event on Friday, Mr Yusuf was asked who was worse, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn or Mr Robinson.

Mr Yusuf said Mr Corbyn was worse as he said he would not use the nuclear deterrent, “rendering our entire Trident programme null and void”.

He went on to say: “I would say this too. Tommy Robinson has said things about the rape gangs, and was making those arguments for years, and was disparaged and has been proven to be correct on those matters and deserves some credit for that.”

The answer was applauded by some members of the audience.

He was asked by Mr Gove whether Mr Robinson would be allowed to join Reform, with Mr Yusuf immediately saying “No”.

Douglas Alexander has described his appointment as Secretary of State for Scotland as a “real honour”.

The Lothian East MP, who was trade minister before his switch to the Scotland Office, replaces Ian Murray, who was sacked as part of the prime minister’s reshuffle.

Labour veteran Mr Alexander previously served a stint as Scotland Secretary from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair’s premiership.

“It’s a real honour to have been appointed Secretary of State for Scotland by Sir Keir Starmer,” he said.

“I look forward to playing a key role in delivering the UK Government’s plan for change by boosting economic growth, putting more money in pockets and making life better for people in Scotland.

“There is a huge amount to be done, and I’m very much looking forward to making sure that Scotland continues to be at the very centre of the Government’s work – including on our drive to clean power and ensuring our country’s security.”

Yvette Cooper has broken her silence after being appointed the sixth foreign minister in just five years.

There is a way back for Angela Rayner despite her dramatic exit, a former deputy leader of the Labour party has said.

Labour Baroness Harman, who served, from 2007 to 2015, in the same role as Ms Rayner as deputy Labour leader, says she believes Ms Rayner will be back.

“I think she has got a very high standing in the party and a lot of admiration from many people in the party,” she told Sky News.

“She’s still got in the bank all that commitment from the Labour Party. So, I would say there is a way back for her – and I strongly believe that.”

Shabana Mahmood has announced that her first priority in her new role as home secretary will be the “safety of citizens”.