November 17, 2025
Shabana Mahmood has held the highest government position ever held by a Muslim MP since September 2025. As home secretary she is responsible for national security, public safety, law enforcement, and immigration. Mahmood began her tenure as home secretary condemning Palestine Action protestors, and introducing harder immigration policies. So as Muslims voters, a group she claims to represent, is this really something we should be considering a win?
Mahmood’s constituency currently has the highest rate of child poverty in the UK according to End Child Poverty, and is also in the top 5 most deprived constituencies in the country, according to government data. Why is it then that she has voted against scrapping the two child benefit cap, and voted for getting rid of personal independence payments and the winter fuel allowance; all of which are desperately needed by the most vulnerable in our society. This is a deeply disappointing voting record that not only fails to represent her constituents, but also the wider British public both on policy and on the ground.
In regards to Palestine, Mahmood has historically held a very clear position, supporting BDS and the wider Palestinian cause. It has been reported that Mahmood, as well as Wes Streeting and Hilary Benn, were the leading figures within the cabinet who called for Britain to move to recognise Palestinian statehood. However since becoming Home Secretary her tone appears to have changed. In her first week she oversaw the arrest of nearly 900 peaceful protesters opposing the Palestine Action terrorism classification, this was over four times as many people charged under Section 13 terror powers in the period since July than during the entire ‘war on terror’. Shabana Mahmood responded to this historic attack on the right to protest by congratulating Met Police Chief Mark Rowley on his policing of the protests.
As a minority group in this country we often feel a sense of obligation to support the political careers of fellow Muslims. It is believed that their presence in the halls of power will benefit the causes and represent the concerns of the wider British Muslim community. The recent general election clearly displayed the need for such representation, when the voices of the Muslim electorate were disregarded, and even described as “shaking off the fleas” by a senior Labour source, for refusing to support a party that was sanctioning a genocide. This clearly reinforces the importance of Muslim representation within politics. However, sadly we have witnessed time and time again Muslim politicians reach positions of power and then abandon the values of the community that got them elected. We believe in creating a political space that is centred around principled politicians who represent their constituents regardless of their party position. Is Shabana Mahmood an example of this?
As Mahmood now holds this significant position within government we urge her to stand with her constituents, not with policies that betray them.