LONDON (Kashmir English): British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Kashmiri-origin Member of Parliament Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary in a cabinet reshuffle.
She has previously served as Minister of Justice and Lord Chancellor.
Shabana Mahmood is an elected Member of Parliament from Birmingham Ladywood and is considered the most senior Muslim woman in the British government.
She began her career as a barrister and has worked on important issues such as judicial reforms, prison overcrowding, and immigration policy.
As Home Secretary, her biggest challenge will be the influx of illegal immigrants, Channel crossings by small boats, and the controversial issue of housing refugees in hotels, for which the government has faced severe criticism in recent months.
Shabana Mahmood had previously stated that the UK needs a system where immigration rules are strict and fair so that newcomers can be better integrated into society.
She also supports reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and wants foreign criminals to be deported immediately upon conviction.
According to political observers, Shabana Mahmood belongs to the Blue Labour faction of the Labour Party, which is considered socially conservative but economically progressive. Her appointment is being described as a significant step.
Human rights organizations have highlighted the challenges facing Shabana Mahmood, stating that she must immediately focus on ending refugee hotels, expediting case decisions, and increasing facilities for refugees arriving through safe and legal routes.
Shabana Mahmood’s family is from Azad Kashmir
It is worth noting that Shabana Mahmood’s family is from Mirpur District in Azad Kashmir, and she was born in Birmingham.
