Shabana Mahmud has emerged as the top contender for UK prime minister after Labor leader Kier Starmer found herself in hot water over the Epstein file. Mahmud, who is currently the home secretary, has advocated for tougher immigration reforms for the country.
Mahmood, who is the daughter of immigrants from Pakistan, said being in the UK was a “privilege and not a right” and therefore, laws should reflect the same position. (AFP)Mahmood, who is the daughter of immigrants from Pakistan and has roots in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, said being in the UK was a “privilege and not a right” and therefore laws should reflect the same position.
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Ministers have called for doubling the time for most migrant workers to qualify for permanent residency from five years to 10 years. Although around 40 Labor MPs are opposed to the move, Mahmud has spoken out in support of the reforms.
“I think that within five years it’s actually a very short period of time to be able to live permanently in the country with all the benefits that come with it,” Mahmoud was quoted as saying by the BBC. “I think it’s right so we’ve extended it. And the proposals we’ve set out include things that can help you bring down that eligibility period,” he added.
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Speaking to Sky News in a 2025 interview, Mahmoud again defended his position and said that despite being the child of immigrants, he would work to fix a “broken system” and tackle illegal immigration.
“I’m the child of immigrants. Illegal immigration is dividing our country,” he said, adding, “It’s a broken system and we have to solve a real problem. My job is to find a proper solution that can unite a divided country.”
Hypocrisy about immigration? He is not the first Shabana Mahmood is not the first person of color to head the Home Office and take a hard line on immigration. Prior to her tenure, the office had seen the likes of Priti Patel, Suella Braverman and James Cleverley under Conservative governments.
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Under Patel, plans were made to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, so migrants had a point-based system.
Suella Braverman, who was an integral part of the Rishi Sunak cabinet, moved to crackdown on student and postgraduate visas and grace periods to stay in the UK.
It continued this stance by announcing a five-point plan to deftly raise the salary threshold, ease further restrictions on immigration and student, family visas and asylum requests.
Despite the change in government, Mahmud as home secretary echoed the sentiment and policy that reflected “firmness on the border”.
