Downing Street has reminded a minister of his obligations after a public dispute, confirming that Mike Tapp will remain in his post as migration minister despite being accused by the Home Secretary of breaching the Ministerial Code.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister stated that it was “not for any individual Secretary of State to determine whether the Ministerial Code has been followed, it is a matter for the Prime Minister alone”. The intervention served as a clear rebuke to both Shabana Mahmood, who had called for Mr Tapp to be sacked, and to Mr Tapp himself, who had openly challenged her policy on indefinite leave to remain.
The spokesperson added that Mike Tapp “has been reminded of his obligations under the Ministerial Code including collective responsibility and procedures relating to the clearance and presentation of government policy”. Sir Keir Starmer is said to be “taking advice” on whether Mr Tapp breached government protocol, but no further disciplinary action has been taken.
The Ministerial Code and collective responsibility
The Ministerial Code is the set of standards governing the conduct of ministers in the discharge of their duties. Published in its current form by Sir Keir Starmer in November 2024, it includes principles of collective responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility. The Prime Minister has the ultimate authority to interpret and enforce the code, and to decide the consequences of any breach.
Collective responsibility, described as a fundamental convention of the British constitution, requires all ministers to publicly support government decisions even if they privately disagree. A minister who cannot abide by this convention is expected to resign. The convention is designed to present a unified government front and prevent internal disagreements from becoming public policy disputes.
In this case, Mr Tapp’s article in The Times advocating for foreign care workers to be exempt from proposed settlement reforms was characterised by a Government source as “freelancing on policy”. The source claimed that Mr Tapp had taken “proposals that the Home Secretary was working on, and briefed them as his own”, and accused him of breaching collective responsibility and the Ministerial Code. The same source alleged that Mr Tapp had threatened to “leak sensitive documents” in a tweet defending his actions.
The dispute
The row erupted after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a significant overhaul of legal migration rules in November 2025. Her proposals, part of an “earned settlement” model, aim to double the standard waiting period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to at least ten years for most migrants. The changes are expected to apply retrospectively, potentially affecting individuals who arrived in the UK since 2021 and had expected to qualify under the old five-year rule.
New core requirements would include a clean criminal record, no debt to the taxpayer, a sustained history of work and tax contributions, and a higher standard of English language proficiency — B2 level, equivalent to A-level. High earners, those in public service roles such as doctors, teachers and nurses, and those with higher English skills could qualify sooner. Conversely, those who have claimed benefits or arrived illegally could face waiting periods of up to 15 to 30 years.
More than 600,000 health and care visas were issued between 2022 and 2024, filling approximately 40,000 jobs. Mr Tapp’s article argued that foreign care workers who had “played by the rules and have genuinely contributed to our care system” should be exempt from the extended waiting period. He wrote that he had been working closely with officials to “develop a better approach than a blanket retrospective extension from five years to 10 years for everyone”.
Home Secretary Mahmood reacted by calling for the Prime Minister to sack Mr Tapp, accusing him of breaching the Ministerial Code and collective responsibility. She also reportedly restricted his access to sensitive documents. A source close to Mahmood claimed that Mr Tapp’s article was written “to try to win a job in the new administration”.
Mr Tapp defended his actions on social media, stating that he had been working on the policy for months and had “receipts” to prove it. He wrote on X: “It’s gone from ‘he broke the ministerial code’ to ‘he stole my idea’. I have put my views across on a policy I’ve been working on for months (I have the receipts) in an Op Ed in the times. Give it a read, and let’s continue to discuss.”
In a separate now-deleted post, Mr Tapp dismissed “attempted intimidation” and, referencing his military service, added: “I’ve seen off the Taliban and taken out terrorists.” Mr Tapp is a former soldier who served in the Intelligence Corps with operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and later worked in intelligence roles at the National Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence. Elected as MP for Dover and Deal in July 2024, he has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship since September 2025. He is described as a loyal supporter of Sir Keir Starmer and is considered to be on the right wing of the Labour Party, with a generally hardline stance on immigration. In March, he faced scrutiny after reportedly failing a question on a UK citizenship test about the height of the London Eye, though he maintained he was a “proud Brit”.
The dispute also highlights existing tensions between Starmer and Mahmood, with the Home Secretary having previously urged the Prime Minister to stand down after Labour’s local election results. The row unfolds amid speculation about leadership changes within the party, with Andy Burnham reportedly a frontrunner to succeed Starmer. Mahmood has separately announced new asylum routes inspired by a Canadian scheme, aimed at deterring asylum claims and facilitating returns.
The apology
On Friday evening, Mr Tapp apologised for the tweet referencing his military service, describing it as “poorly judged”. He said: “I realised very quickly that it could be misinterpreted and so I deleted it immediately. I apologise wholeheartedly for any offence I may have caused. I have a lot of respect for the Home Secretary and will continue working hard for our country.”
