Overview

• In her first major interview as home secretary, Mahmood said legal and illegal migration must be reduced and proposed tying indefinite leave to remain to evidence of community contribution beyond employment.
• She ordered reviews of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Modern Slavery Act to curb their use in stopping deportations.
• The home secretary criticised housing people who arrived unlawfully in hotels, calling the approach a "total disaster for the country."
• She warned that failing to halt small‑boat crossings would fuel division and strengthen the far right.
• The moves come ahead of Labour conference and align with the prime minister’s push for a digital ID to tighten right‑to‑work checks, with the changes currently at proposal and review stages rather than law.