British PM Keir Starmer Appoints Pakistani-Origin MP Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary

London, 6 September 2025: In a major cabinet reshuffle, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Shabana Mahmood, a Member of Parliament of Pakistani origin, as the United Kingdom’s new Home Secretary.

Previously serving as the Justice Secretary, Mahmood has now taken on one of the most high-profile and sensitive roles in the British government. Known within the Labour Party as a strong, outspoken, and “safe pair of hands” politician, she has earned widespread respect for her courageous and practical policy approaches in the justice sector.

Born on 17 September 1980 in Birmingham, 44-year-old Shabana Mahmood is the daughter of Mahmood Ahmed and Zubaida, who hail from Mirpur, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for representation of ethnic minorities and women in British politics.

During her tenure as Justice Secretary, Mahmood gained recognition for her reform-driven agenda, advocating for fairer laws and more inclusive legal systems. Her elevation to the role of Home Secretary signals Prime Minister Starmer’s intent to bring trusted, competent, and reform-minded leaders into key positions of power.

Read more: Pakistani-origin MP Shabana Mahmood is new UK home secretary.

The appointment has been met with appreciation both within the UK and abroad, especially among British-Pakistani communities who view Mahmood’s rise as a source of pride and inspiration.

With responsibilities now including immigration, policing, national security, and counter-terrorism, Shabana Mahmood steps into a pivotal role at a time when domestic and international security challenges are on the rise.