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Former Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been appointed U.K. Home Secretary, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold the position, amid a smear campaign on social media targeting her Muslim identity and pro-Palestinian stance.
The appointment came as she replaced Yvette Cooper in a major cabinet reshuffle.
The reshuffle comes as Britain’s political scene faces upheaval following Angela Rayner’s resignation, which triggered the reorganization.
In the same shake-up, Foreign Secretary David Lammy was named deputy prime minister, succeeding Angela Rayner, while also taking on the role of Justice Secretary.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Cooper as the new foreign secretary, replacing Lammy.
The new U.K. home secretary, born in Birmingham in 1980 to Pakistani parents, spent some of her early childhood in Saudi Arabia before returning to the U.K.
She attended Lincoln College, Oxford, where she studied law, and went on to train as a barrister specializing in professional indemnity cases.
Mahmood has held several key posts across Labour’s frontbench, including shadow financial secretary to the Treasury and shadow minister for prisons. She briefly stepped away from frontline politics in 2015 during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership but returned under Keir Starmer.
By 2023, she was serving as shadow justice secretary and, following Labour’s 2024 general election victory, became justice secretary and lord chancellor. In that role, she pushed through early prisoner release schemes to relieve pressure on jails.
As the new home secretary, Mahmood inherits responsibility for addressing a range of pressing issues, including asylum backlogs, deportations, police reform, and inquiries into grooming gangs.
During her tenure as justice secretary, Mahmood proposed changes to the law to allow foreign criminals to be deported immediately upon receiving a custodial sentence.
This came at a time when the Home Office had been working to increase the number of returns of migrants without legal permission to remain in the U.K.
Her promotion underscores the importance Prime Minister Keir Starmer places on immigration and security issues, which are expected to be central to his government’s agenda.
Mahmood’s appointment follows criticism over the summer regarding the government’s handling of small boat crossings and the housing of asylum-seekers in hotels, which sparked protests and political pushback.
Earlier this year, Mahmood called for reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to restore public confidence across Europe.
On Tuesday, she told the Lords Constitution Committee that it is “perfectly fine” for ministers to question the U.K.’s interpretation of the treaty, noting that European colleagues view the U.K. as being on the “maximalist end of the spectrum.
While some hailed it as a milestone for diversity, others were quick to unleash criticism, dragging up her Pakistani roots and vocal pro-Palestine stance.
Online reactions were swift. Some users highlighted that Mahmood signed a letter halting a deportation flight carrying foreign criminals, including a convicted child rapist.
Another criticized Mahmood’s appointment, claiming that, as a Muslim, she places Islam above all else.
Joey Mannarino, a remigration advocate, reacted on X to Shabana Mahmood’s appointment as U.K. home secretary, noting that she swore her oath of office on the Quran.
"The United Kingdom has officially become a Muslim nation. This is unbelievable,'" he added.
On X, one user expressed outrage over Mahmood’s appointment as U.K. home secretary, recalling her controversial decision to release certain prisoners early to make room in jails. The user added that Britain is "going to hell at warp speed."
Some praised the historic nature of her rise, calling it a landmark for representation, while others worried her pro-Palestine views and Pakistani background would stir political tensions.
Memes and fiery takes quickly spread, turning the reshuffle into an online circus.
Analysts say Mahmood's appointment signals Starmer's intent to double down on immigration and law-and-order politics, with her every move now under an intense spotlight.
6 min read
