Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

At the start of the day, details surrounding the home secretary's plans to reform asylum policy had been scarce.

Since then Mahmood has spoken to BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, and the picture has become a little clearer.

What we knew this morning:

Under the plans people granted asylum in the UK will have to wait 20 years before they can apply to settle permanently.

Also, Shabana Mahmood wants to cut the period people hold refugee status from five years to two-and-a-half years, after which refugee status will be regularly reviewed.

What we know now:

• If asylum seekers use "safe and legal routes", find work and contribute to society they may be able to apply for settled status earlier. Though, Mahmood didn't elaborate further on the practicalities of this
• Regular reviews of asylum status "will not be a bureaucratic nightmare" for the Home Office - Mahmood says it's her job to make it work

• On the use of taxis spent to transport asylum seekers from hotels to appointments, Mahmood vowed that the government will set the results of a review on the situation soon
• The UK must address the "pull factors" driving illegal migrants to make dangerous boat crossings across the Channel

Despite more details emerging, they remain limited in scope and leave unanswered questions.

Her plans will be unveiled in further detail on Monday, and we'll be following along to bring you the latest developments. Until then, you can keep up to date in our news story.

We're now ending our live coverage, but we'll be back next week to cover Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

US President Donald Trump said he would launch legal action against the BBC "probably some time next week" over how his speech was edited by Panorama. This comes after the corporation apologised but refused to compensate him.

This was a key topic on today's programme, let's take a look back at what was said:

"Get your house in order": Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government supports the BBC but urged the corporation to restore order. She didn't offer a comment on whether the BBC should pay Donald Trump any money.

"Trump is the wronged party": Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called Trump the "wronged party", and said that the BBC should have apologised a lot faster.

"Quite outrageous": Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said that Keir Starmer must "absolutely intervene" and get Trump to withdraw his lawsuit. He described the idea of an ally "undermining our national institution" as "quite outrageous".

We also heard from Lord Tony Hall, former director general of the BBC until 2020. He said the BBC should not pay any money to Trump: "You're talking about public money. It would not be appropriate."

This week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg saw all three political guests pushed on illegal migration, here's a breakdown of what we heard:

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

• Illegal migration is "dividing" the country and putting "huge pressure on communities", ahead of her asylum policy announcement on Monday
• The UK must deal with the "pull factors" driving illegal migrants to make dangerous boat crossings across the Channel
• Having "absolutely no expectations" for asylum seekers to seek employment and support themselves is "unfair"

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said:

• The Conservatives will vote for Labour's migration proposals if they are "sensible", but he struck a more critical note when he said the plans aren't "radical" enough
• "The only thing that would stop people" is the knowledge that they would be immediately deported
• The UK needs to come out of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) "so we can deport every single illegal arrival within a week"

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said:

• It's right to have asylum measures "to tackle the chaos", and suggested a "nightingale method of tackling the backlog"
• This method would see the government use emergency wartime powers to clear the asylum backlog and reduce the use of hotels, using the Civil Contingencies Act to set up temporary "Nightingale processing centres"
• The 20-year wait for asylum seekers to apply to settle in the UK permanently poses a "danger" as it "could prevent refugees contributing to our society"

This week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has just come to an end.

We're continuing to comb through the details of what we heard from the home secretary, shadow home secretary and Lib Dem leader.

Stay with us for the latest developments, and a recap of what we've just heard.

Kuenssberg asks Davey what he makes of the government's new asylum system proposals, which the home secretary will announce on Monday.

It's right that we have some measures to "tackle the chaos" says Davey, though he says his party is suggesting other measures, like a "nightingale method of tackling the backlog".

Kuenssberg pushes him on the proposed 20-year waiting period for permanent settled status.

Davey says "there is a danger here... that it will prevent refugees contributing to our society".

• For context: The Liberal Democrats have previously called for the government to use emergency wartime powers to set up temporary "Nightingale processing centres" to deal with asylum claims and end the use of hotels.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is first asked if the BBC should pay Trump, which has been a common question in today's programme.

"No way," he says

Davey adds that PM Keir Starmer must "absolutely intervene" and get Trump to withdraw his lawsuit.

The idea of an ally "undermining our national institution" is "quite outrageous," he adds.

He says licence fee payers will be shocked if the US president comes to "pick their pockets".

He also condemns Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for "egging Trump on".

• For context: Reform UK has said it will no longer co-operate with a BBC documentary about the party following a row over how a speech by US President Donald Trump was edited.

Former director general of the BBC, Lord Tony Hall, tells Kuenssberg the corporation should not pay any money to US President Donald Trump.

"You're talking about licence fee payers' money, you're talking about public money. It would not be appropriate," he says.

Kuenssberg asks why the BBC's handling of mistakes "always seems so bad".

Hall says he thinks that "the slowness in a lot of these crises is right", adding that the BBC "needs to find ways of talking about the positive things it does" to the public to cut through negative headlines.

• For context: The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned on 9 November following the publication of a leaked internal memo. Written by a former BBC adviser, it accused the organisation of - among other things - anti-Trump bias over the final edit of a Panorama programme titled Trump: A Second Chance?. BBC Chair Samir Shah subsequently apologised for the “error in judgement”. The US president has said he will take legal action against the BBC “probably some time next week” after the corporation refused to compensate him.

Up next, it's Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey.

28 October 2024: A Panorama episode which edited Trump's 6 January 2021 speech is aired by the BBC

3 November 2025: A leaked memo from Michael Prescott, a former independent adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, is published in the Telegraph. It highlights the Panorama edit among other "troubling matters"

9 November: BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign

11 November: Trump's legal team sends a letter to the BBC, threatening to sue for $1bn (£759m) - giving the corporation a deadline of 14 November to respond

13 November: The BBC publishes an apology to Trump but refuses to compensate him, arguing there is no "basis for a defamation claim"

14 November: Trump says he still intends to sue, for "anywhere between $1bn and $5bn (£3.79bn)"

A final question for the shadow home secretary.

Laura Kuenssberg asks who he has more sympathy for - Donald Trump or the BBC?

"Trump is the wronged party," on this issue, Philp says and adds that the BBC should have apologised a lot faster.

When asked if licence fee payers' money should go to the White House, Chris Philp says "no, I don't think so".

• For context: The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned on 9 November following the publication of a leaked internal memo. Written by a former BBC adviser, it accused the organisation of - among other things - anti-Trump bias over the final edit of a Panorama programme titled Trump: A Second Chance?. BBC Chair Samir Shah subsequently apologised for the “error in judgement”. The US president has said he will take legal action against the BBC “probably some time next week” after the corporation refused to compensate him.

We're now turning back to the panel - you can watch live above.

Philp continues by saying "the only thing that would stop people" is the knowledge that they would be immediately deported.

The shadow home secretary says he's spoken to people hoping to make the crossing to the UK: "They think they can come here and work illegally... they think their chances of getting removed are virtually zero," he says.

It's now the turn of shadow secretary Chris Philp.

Kuenssberg asks if the opposition will vote for Labour's migration proposals.

Philp, who used to be a home office minister, says the Conservatives will support the plans if they are sensible but adds that so far he's heard they consist of "a few gimmicks" and one or two steps in the right direction.

However, he says the plans aren't "radical" enough.

Philp says the UK needs to come out of European Court of Human Rights "so we can deport every single illegal arrival within a week" and adds the country needs to stop paying benefits to foreign citizens.

Mahmood is then asked about US President Donald Trump saying he will take legal action against the BBC.

UK Prime Minister is expected to speak to Trump this weekend.

On what Starmer should say to Trump, she says the government supports the BBC, but urges it to "get your house in order".

She does not provide comment on whether the BBC should pay Trump any money.

• For context: The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned on 9 November following the publication of a leaked internal memo. Written by a former BBC adviser, it accused the organisation of - among other things - anti-Trump bias over the final edit of a Panorama programme titled Trump: A Second Chance?. BBC Chair Samir Shah subsequently apologised for the “error in judgement”. The US president has said he will take legal action against the BBC “probably some time next week” after the corporation refused to compensate him.

With that, the interview with Shabana Mahmood has come to an end - next up is shadow home secretary Chris Philp.

Mahmood is now asked what needs to change in No. 10.

She calls happened earlier this week "horribly embarrassing and deeply mortifying", hoping her party can draw a line under what happened.

• For context: On Tuesday, unnamed allies of the prime minister began speaking to political journalists, saying Keir Starmer would “fight” any challenge to his leadership. Among others, frontbenchers Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting were floated as potential topplers. Streeting dismissed the claims on Wednesday morning as “self-defeating nonsense”.

Mahmood insists she has spent her week focusing on her asylum reforms, dismissing the rumours of leadership challenges "this tittle tattle".

Kuenssberg presses further, saying it is indicative of people being fed up with leadership.

Mahmood says all briefings against ministers are completely unacceptable.

Would you go for the top job as prime minister? Kuenssberg asks Mahmood.

She refuses to "indulge in hypotheticals". Starmer's leadership is not in question, she declares.

Next, Kuenssberg asks Mahmood if she believes she can actually push her proposals through Parliament, when there is opposition from some figures in her party.

Mahmood says: "I really reject the idea that dealing with this problem is somehow engaging in far-right talking points".

Illegal migration is "tearing our country apart", she adds.

"I know that I have to persuade people... not just in Parliament but across the country," that these reforms will work, says Mahmood.

The next question is about taxpayers' money being spent on taxis for asylum seekers.

For context: Earlier this year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the use of taxis to take asylum seekers from their hotels to appointments must be stopped.

Shabana Mahmood says she "inherited a set of contracts" for the provision of asylum support and accommodation from the previous government and says she is "furious" about the taxi situation.

The government will set the results of a review on the situation soon, she says.

Kuenssberg asks for Mahmood for evidence that her plan will make a difference.

She references when Mahmood called the UK a "golden ticket" for asylum seekers. But if you look at other countries, says Kuenssberg, Britain is "less generous".

Mahmood argues that people are "advertising the generosity of our system in Britain" - such as asylum seekers being providing hotels and food. Criminals are selling packages to migrants in France - which she says is part of what is driving the problem.

The home secretary says it is imperative that the UK sends a signal, and that it tackles organised crime.

The UK must also deal with the "pull factors" driving the issue, she adds.

Kuenssberg asks, under Mahmood's new proposals, how many asylum seekers could lose their accommodation or see payments taken away.

Mahmood says that under the current system there is "no expectation" that individuals with the right to work - she puts this figure at 10% - to actually seek work and support themselves.

Kuenssberg pushes Mahmood again, asking where people would go if they lost their accommodation.

The home secretary says she doesn't think "it is fair" that "we run a system where there are absolutely no expectations whatsoever that people can work and support themselves", but doesn't offer more detail.

• For context: As well as the announced changes to refugee status, the home secretary is expected to revoke the UK's statutory legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support.

Kuenssberg next questions the home secretary on the war in Ukraine.

She asks if the logic in Mahmood's plan is that Ukrainians who have fled the war would have to return to their country once it becomes safe again.

The home secretary says the situation was "bespoke and always intended to be a temporary scheme".

She adds that most of those Ukrainians wish to return once the war is over.

Kuenssberg asks if the 200,000 people must leave once things are safe in Ukraine.

Mahmood says that it is already written into the agreement with Ukraine, but adds the agreement is separate to the wider asylum system.

Kuenssberg presses further on whether somebody in the UK "for the right reasons" might be returned at any moment.

Mahmood reiterates that the government will be changing this to a temporary process, with asylum being reviewed every 2.5 years.

There will be fairness as well, including new legal routes.

She is now asked about bureaucracy in the home office, to which she insists it is her job to make things work.

We want the system back in order, says Mahmood.

Laura Kuenssberg starts by asking Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood if the government's proposed changes to the asylum system could see someone "booted" out after building a life in the UK for 19 years.

Illegal migration is "dividing" the country and putting "huge pressure on communities" says Mahmood.

She says it's important to deal with this issue and her proposed measures are designed to "restore order and control".

The government wants to reduce arrivals, increase removals and establish new "safe and legal routes", she adds.

• For context: The home secretary is due to announce tomorrow that those granted asylum in the UK will have to wait 20 years before they can apply to settle permanently. Refugees will have their status reviewed regularly after two-and-a-half years, and if their home country is deemed safe, they will be told to return.