Alf Dubs labels Shabana Mahmood’s intensified immigration stance “disappointing”.

The home secretary’s choice to reinforce strict immigration measures after Labour’s by‑election loss to the Greens is “disappointing”, says Labour peer Alf Dubs.

Lord Dubs, who escaped Nazi‑occupied Czechoslovakia on the Kindertransport in 1939, had earlier charged Shabana Mahmood with “pulling up the drawbridge” on child migrants.

Hannah Spencer, a plumber and Green councillor, captured the formerly secure Labour constituency of Gorton and Denton in east Manchester on Thursday, overturning a 13,000‑vote majority.

Labour’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia, finished third, trailing Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin.

Labour has been blamed for pushing away left‑wing voters as it seeks to counter the rise of Reform, especially on immigration.

Green leader Zack Polanski argued that Labour is echoing “the rhetoric of the far right” with its proposed immigration changes, modeled on Denmark’s tough system.

Mahmood said on Friday she would pursue the contentious policies despite criticism from many backbench Labour MPs and union leaders.

The government intends the most extensive overhaul of the asylum system in four decades; under the plan, people who enter illegally would have to wait 20 years before applying for indefinite leave to remain.

“The Greens are showing that, on humanitarian grounds, they are probably in the right place on immigration,” Dubs said. “Reform hasn’t performed as Reform expected.”

Dubs, 93, said he did not view Mahmood’s reply as “sensible” given the humiliating by‑election defeat.

The Greens have put forward their own immigration reforms, urging that asylum seekers be permitted to work and that the state create additional safe pathways for refugees.

Labour’s proposals are widely interpreted as a reaction to Reform’s growing support. Nigel Farage has warned his party would abolish indefinite leave to remain and deport roughly 600,000 migrants in its first term if elected.

“I think Mahmood should be more influenced by the Green victory and the Greens’ sensible policy, and Labour ought to adopt an equally sensible stance,” Dubs said.

He added that he was especially worried about child refugees, many of whom are affected by last year’s suspension of family‑reunion visas.

Until September, a refugee who had been granted status could sponsor a spouse or partner and dependent children under 18 to join them.

“We need a more humanitarian approach for refugees and asylum seekers, particularly regarding family reunion and children,” he said.

“I find Mahmood’s position disappointing and hope she will move away from it toward a better arrangement.

“One of the priorities should be family reunion for child refugees, if a child is abroad and has close family here with settled status.