British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Kashmiri-origin MP Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary in a cabinet reshuffle. She has previously served as Justice Minister and Lord Chancellor.
Shabana Mahmood is the MP for 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 reform, prison overcrowding and immigration policy.
The biggest challenge facing her as Home Secretary is the influx of illegal immigrants, the Channel crossings by small boats and the controversial issue of keeping refugees in hotels, over which the government has faced strong criticism in recent months.
Shabana Mahmood has previously said that Britain 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 after 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 pointed out the challenges facing Shabana Mahmood, saying that she must immediately focus on closing down refugee hotels, speeding up case decisions and increasing facilities for refugees coming through safe and legal channels.
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