UK immigration minister criticised for 'distasteful' photo with gun
Brian Leishman criticised Mike Tapp after the immigration minister posted a picture of himself holding a large firearm at a security and policing exhibition
UK immigration minister has been criticised after he posed with a gun in a “distasteful” post about “Britain’s border” on social media.
Scots Labour MP Brian Leishman criticised Mike Tapp after the UK government minister posted a picture earlier this month of himself holding a large firearm at a security and policing exhibition.
The Alloa and Grangemouth MP said it was “against every principle a Labour minister should have” and showed the party was “unrecognisable”.
Mr Tapp posted a photo of himself holding a gun on X 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.”
Mr Leishman shared the post on X and said: “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 then told The Scotsman: “I think it is distasteful and against everything that Labour was set up for.
“We are meant to stand with oppressed people.
“Seeing an immigration minister holding an automatic weapon and posting about the border is against every principle a Labour minister should have.”
Mr Tapp is the MP for Dover and Deal in the south east of England.
The 41-year-old was elected at the 2024 general election and became the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship in September last year.
He often uses union jacks in his social media posts and is considered to be on the right of the Labour party.
Mr Tapp served in the British Army and did three tours of Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming an MP.
Mr Leishman has been one of the UK Government’s most vocal critics since being elected in 2024.
He is on the left of the party and had the Labour whip withdrawn for four months last year because he had rebelled so much.
The Home Office and Labour Party have been approached for comment.
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