Who is Mike Tapp? The controversial minister at the centre of a political row over immigration

Immigration minister Mike Tapp has found himself at the centre of a political storm after an extraordinary row erupted between himself and the home secretary.

Shabana Mahmood called on the prime minister to sack the Labour MP for breaching the ministerial code after he wrote an article for The Times, asserting his "strong belief" that foreign care workers already in the UK should not face extended waiting periods to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

The public spat has played out on social media, reaching fever pitch as Mr Tapp shared a series of posts hitting out at Mahmood and defending his article.

Other MPs also weighed in as the drama unfolded, including former Labour MP Rosie Duffield who shared her personal negative experiences with the minister.

Mr Tapp has been the MP for Dover and Deal since 2024 and formerly served in the British military before working at the National Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence.

On the right wing of the Labour Party, Mr Tapp has taken a hardline stance on immigration in government, often garnering criticism from the left of his party.

He took to X on Friday morning to defend his article in The Times, sharing a picture of himself smiling and telling Ms Mahmood to “stay classy!”

“I won’t be intimidated to drop my views,” he said “Oh and I’m at a wedding in San Francisco, but happy to talk more when I’m back (I promise that’s the Golden Gate Bridge hidden by the fog).”

In a now-deleted post, he later wrote: “The attempted intimidation is quite a sight, I’ve seen of the Taliban and taken out terrorists. Country first, always!”

Other MPs soon weighed in on the row, with former Labour MP Rosie Duffield writing on X: “Not enough violins in the world. Good riddance.”

She then claimed Mr Tapp did TV interviews on GB News rather than set up media opportunities for her when he was her communications manager.

She wrote: “Took me just 8 days to get rid of him, by mutual agreement, as my Comms Manager for doing TV interviews on GB News as a 'security advisor', rather than, you know, setting up media for the MP he worked for...But the Labour Party knew that.”

It’s not the first time Mr Tapp’s social media presence has caused a stir.

Last year, one post went viral as he was ridiculed for sharing a picture of himself eating a full English breakfast with the caption: “British values.”

His dog, Scooby, also regularly features in social media posts, with another showing him feeding him “a bit of British pie” with a fork.

Earlier this month, the MP also sparked some conversation after posting a selfie with colleagues with the phrase: “Aura farming! Guilty.”

In March, he was criticised for posting a picture of himself holding a large gun at security and policing exhibition with the caption: “I was at Security & Policing expo 2026 today talking about the future of Britain’s border. We’re bringing in modern technology, better intelligence and stronger enforcement to stop smuggling gangs and protect the UK.

“A modern border that works for security, trade and travellers.”

Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman hit out at the post, writing in response: “An Immigration Minister in a Labour Government posing with a gun and tweeting about Britain’s border.

“There’s some people in charge of the Labour Party that have made a great institution that’s fought for the advancement of human rights and social justice unrecognisable.”

He was also criticised by Zack Polanski earlier this month, after asking him if he supports proscribed group Palestine Action.

“The fact that your government has made it illegal for me to answer yes is a damning testament to your flagrant disregard for civil liberties,” the Green Party leader wrote.

Mr Tapp also made headlines in March, when he failed a UK citizenship test question before insisting he is a "proud Brit”.

Speaking at a parliamentary committee on settlement, citizenship and integration in March, the Labour MP was forced to admit he did not know the height of the London Eye - one of the questions in the official UK citizenship test.

"I am confident that I would be able to pass the test, I'm a proud Brit," he added, but promised to "take a keen interest" in knowing the answer "when it comes up again" in the same meeting next year.

Downing Street has so far resisted calls to dismiss the minister, sparking a stand-off with Ms Mahmood on Thursday evening after she accused Mr Tapp of breaching the ministerial code.

A government source has accused him of having taken “proposals that the home secretary was working on, and briefed them as his own”.

It is understood that the home secretary has now barred the minister from viewing any government documents or holding meetings without her approval.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Friday that Sir Keir Starmer still has confidence in both Mr Tapp and Ms Mahmood, but added he was now taking advice on how to respond to the row.

The spokesman 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.”