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Who is Shabana Mahmood, first Pak-origin woman to be appointed UK’s Home Secretary?
Following her appointment, Mahmood posted on X: "It is the honour of my life to serve as Home Secretary. The first responsibility of government is the safety of its citizens."
Born in Birmingham in 1980 to parents from Mirpur, Mahmood spent parts of her childhood in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. (Photo: @ukhomeoffice/ X)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffled his cabinet on September 5, after the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. As part of the changes, Shabana Mahmood, who had been serving as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, was appointed Home Secretary. According to Gulf News, Mahmood is the first Muslim woman of Pakistani origin to lead the Home Office, the ministry responsible for immigration, policing, and national security.
Following her appointment, Mahmood posted on X: “It is the honour of my life to serve as Home Secretary. The first responsibility of government is the safety of its citizens.” She added, “Every day in this job, I will be devoted to that purpose.”
It is the honour of my life to serve as Home Secretary.
The first responsibility of government is the safety of its citizens.
Every day in this job, I will be devoted to that purpose. https://t.co/w3UxrNLb2p
— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) September 5, 2025
Who is Shabana Mahmood?
Born in Birmingham in 1980 to parents from Mirpur, Mahmood spent parts of her childhood in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. She studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford, and practiced as a barrister before entering politics.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood in July 2024, Mahmood has risen steadily through Labour’s ranks, holding key roles in both the shadow cabinet and government.
During her tenure as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Mahmood implemented reforms to reduce prison overcrowding, including early release programmes. Gulf News noted that she also took firm positions on sentencing safety and human rights legislation.
According to the UK government, as Secretary of State for the Home Department, Mahmood has overall responsibility for all Home Office business, including:
- Oversight of the departmental portfolio and ministerial team
- Cabinet duties
- National Security Council (NSC) matters
- Public appointments
- Supervision of the Security Service
(With inputs from UK government official website, Gulf News)
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