Prime Minister Keir Starmer is taking advice on whether Immigration Minister Mike Tapp breached government protocol by writing an article in The Times, the prime minister’s official spokesperson confirmed to journalists on Monday. The spokesperson stated that Starmer retains confidence in both Tapp and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, despite the escalating row over the article.
Official response to protocol questions
The spokesperson said: “He’s taking advice in the usual way. You wouldn’t expect me to go into the kind of internal processes around that, but as I say, as I think was said last night, decisions on the ministerial code are for the prime minister, and that’s always been the case.”
The comments came after reports that Tapp’s article in The Times may have violated government rules requiring ministers to clear media contributions with the press office. The article, published earlier this week, outlined the government’s approach to immigration and small boat crossings.
Background on the controversy
Tapp, who was appointed immigration minister in July, wrote the piece amid ongoing debate over the government’s strategy to tackle illegal migration. The article drew criticism from opposition MPs who accused him of bypassing standard protocol. However, Downing Street has not confirmed whether a formal investigation has been launched.
The spokesperson added that the prime minister is “taking advice in the usual way” and that internal processes are not typically disclosed. They reiterated that decisions on the ministerial code rest solely with Starmer.
Retained confidence in ministers
Despite the controversy, the spokesperson confirmed that Starmer retains full confidence in both Tapp and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood has faced separate scrutiny over the Home Office’s handling of immigration policy, but the spokesperson said there was no link to the current issue.
The row comes as the government faces pressure to reduce small boat crossings, with over 12,000 arrivals recorded so far this year, according to Home Office figures. The article in question was seen as an attempt to reinforce the government’s stance ahead of a key parliamentary debate on immigration next week.
