LONDON: Shabana Mahmood, the British-Pakistani MP from Birmingham, has been appointed as the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in the newly formed Labour government. This appointment was confirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office.
Shabana Mahmood becomes the first observant Muslim and only the second woman to hold the ancient office of Lord Chancellor. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in British politics. She was the fourth former shadow minister to enter Downing Street following Starmer’s appointment as prime minister.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Mahmood’s parents hail from Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. She is fluent in Urdu and Mirpuri. After studying on a scholarship, she was called to the bar at Grays Inn and specialized in professional indemnity cases. Last year, she was appointed shadow justice secretary. Her previous shadow ministerial roles included positions in home affairs, business, and as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.
In an emotional speech after her appointment, Mahmood thanked her parents and supporters for their unwavering support during a challenging campaign. She highlighted the harassment and intimidation she faced, describing it as an assault on democracy. Mahmood emphasized the need for British politics to reject intimidation and threats, stating, “While it will always be acceptable to disagree passionately, it is never acceptable to intimidate and threaten.”
Referencing similar experiences faced by MP Naz Shah, Mahmood addressed the broader issues of religious discrimination and harassment. She asserted, “It is never acceptable to deny anyone their faith, to brand them an infidel. I know what a Muslim looks like, a Muslim looks like me. I know what Muslim values are. Muslim values are mine and they are British values too: decency, respect, kindness.”
Mahmood also expressed her determination to overcome the challenges posed by her opponents, vowing to continue campaigning for change both locally and nationally. She acknowledged the pressing issues of poverty and unemployment in her constituency, attributing them to the Tory government’s policies. Mahmood commended Keir Starmer’s efforts to reform the Labour Party and expressed optimism about the party’s future.
In an interview, Mahmood spoke about the intimidation and harassment she has faced as a Kashmiri Pakistani-origin Muslim woman in public life. She emphasized the importance of encouraging women to participate in politics despite these challenges. Mahmood has been a prominent figure in the Labour Party, serving as the head of its election campaign during by-elections and as a member of the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee since 2016.
Mahmood, an Oxford graduate first elected in 2010, has consistently won her seat, most recently with 15,558 votes. She is expected to be sworn in as Lord Chancellor at the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the opening of parliament on July 17.
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