UK appoints Shabana Mahmood as first Muslim woman of Pakistani descent to head Home Office

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffled his cabinet on 5 September 2025 following 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 as Home Secretary, taking charge of immigration, policing and national security.

Her appointment is historic, as she becomes the first Muslim woman of Pakistani origin to lead the Home Office.

Mahmood was born in Birmingham in 1980 to parents from Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, and spent part of her childhood in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. She studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford, and later practised as a barrister before entering politics. Elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood in 2010, she has held a number of senior positions within Labour’s shadow cabinet and in government.

As Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Mahmood introduced reforms to address prison overcrowding, including early release initiatives, and took firm positions on sentencing policies and human rights legislation.

Her approach was often described as pragmatic, drawing comparisons to the “Blue Labour” tradition.

Now as Home Secretary, Mahmood’s combination of political experience, legal background and personal perspective will be central to shaping government policy in one of Britain’s most influential departments.