One of Andy Burnham’s allies has launched a vocal attack on the government’s approach to immigration, arguing that it has been an “abject failure, both morally and electorally”.
Compass, a leading think tank, has put together a report – seen by The Independent – outlining 100 policies they believe the prime minister should introduce in his first 100 days, which will be published in three parts over the next three weeks.
The pressure group is headed by Neil Lawson, who is also the co-founder of Mainstream Labour, the Burnham-backed faction set up in August 2025 that was closely associated with the new prime minister when he was preparing to challenge Sir Keir Starmer.
One of the policies suggested by the report – which is made up of ideas submitted by members and organisations – is a “positive immigration stance”.
It argues that “Labour‘s adoption of Reform/Conservative style immigration policy has been an abject failure, both morally and electorally”, instead calling for a “principled, positive case for immigration and Britain’s responsibility to take a share of people displaced by climate change and war, while noting falling net migration and Brexit’s effect on EU vs. non-EU migration patterns”.
Sir Keir Starmer’s government faced significant criticism from left wing Labour MPs and refugee charities who accused the Home Office of attempting to copy Reform UK and fuelling division in Britain.
While Andy Burnham was previously thought to have been concerned that some of the government’s migration policies went to far – including plans to radically reform who is eligible for indefinite leave to remain – his allies later signalled their support for Ms Mahmood.
This position was confirmed when, as prime minister, Mr Burnham reappointed Ms Mahmood to his cabinet as home secretary.
Despite Labour’s efforts to prove it is tough on migration and it is listening to mounting public concern over the issue, the party has spent much of its time in power lagging behind Reform in the polls – with many voters citing migration as a deciding factor.
However, since Mr Burnham entered Downing Street, the party has overtaken Reform UK in a number of polls.
The latest YouGov survey put Labour on 24 points, two points ahead of Nigel Farage’s party on 22 per cent – the first time a YouGov poll has put Labour ahead of Reform in more than a year.
It is also Reform’s lowest score since March 2025, with the party losing ground to the Conservatives.
The latest criticism will come as a blow to Mr Burnham who has said the government would be “relentless” in chasing down the gangs who are facilitating dangerous Channel crossings, promising to “keep going at this issue” until small boat crossings are stopped.
The prime minister on Tuesday promised to “change our tactics” to tackle the gangs bringing migrants across the English Channel, after a record 230 people made the journey in a single boat this week.
The gangs appear to have begun loading more people into single boats in recent weeks, with the record 230 people arriving in Britain in one vessel in the early hours of Monday morning.
The inflatable boat was “buckling” in the water and could have led to a tragedy, French rescuers warned.
Asked about the 15m-long dinghy, the prime minister told GB News: “I know people will have been worried to see that image yesterday.
“It shows that the gangs are changing their tactics, but so will we – we will now change our tactics and we will be relentless in chasing them down.
“I said that when I visited Dover just over a week ago and I meant it. And I was there to change the conversation.”
A government source said:”This government’s immigration policies are designed to restore control at our border, and bring fairness back to our migration system – fair for genuine refugees, and fair for communities already here.
“That means bearing down on uncontrolled, unsafe and illegal small boat crossings, while opening capped, safe and legal routes for genuine refugees. With small boat crossing numbers down this year, and new safe and legal routes opening for applicants soon, that work is beginning to bear fruit.”
