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Shabana Mahmood

The latest news and top stories on Shabana Mahmood, Justice Secretary. A British politician and barrister, she has served as MP for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. Appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in July 2024, she is the first Muslim and third female to hold this historic role. Her responsibilities include overseeing the justice system, judicial policy and legal aid. She has focused on tackling prison overcrowding, implementing early release schemes and emphasising restricted freedoms for community sentences. Her background includes various shadow cabinet roles, demonstrating extensive experience in legal and governmental affairs.

Police arrest a protester for not removing a face covering during a protest held by pro-Palestinian group Al-Quds in central London on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Israel-Iran conflict

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood agreed to ban the march after police said it was organised by a group ‘supportive of the Iranian regime’.

16 Mar 2026 - 3:43AM

Hong Kong society

Applications miss target as 670 Hongkongers settle in UK with BN(O) visa

28 Feb 2026 - 11:37PMvideocam

Britain

‘Strong and united’: UK’s Starmer defiant as Epstein fallout dogs leadership

11 Feb 2026 - 9:19AM

Hong Kong politics

UK expands BN(O) scheme to more Hongkongers following Jimmy Lai sentencing

Britain’s Home Office says those under 18 during 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for scheme.

9 Feb 2026 - 10:29PM

People walk past skyscrapers and office buildings in London. Photo: AFP

Britain

UK plans to create a ‘British FBI’ national police force

The new National Police Service will tackle the most complex and serious crimes, the UK government says.

26 Jan 2026 - 8:52AM

Britain

Mobile seizure powers launch in UK crackdown on people smugglers

New UK laws allow officers to seize SIM cards and mobiles to gather intelligence on smuggling operators.

5 Jan 2026 - 11:37AM

Hong Kong politics

Labour MPs urge UK to protect Hong Kong BN(O) migrants from residency reforms

Lawmakers voice ‘significant concerns’ that tighter residency criteria could undermine efforts to safeguard Hongkongers’ settlement pathway.

19 Dec 2025 - 7:42PM

Labour MPs have called on the UK government to protect Hongkongers from stricter residency rules under the proposed BN(O) visa overhaul. Photo: EPA-EFE

Europe’s refugee crisis

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

2 Dec 2025 - 10:39AM

My Take

My Take | BN(0) visa holders deserve clarity on the pathway to a new life in the UK

Hong Kong people are precisely the sort of migrants Britain wants. Yet radical immigration reforms place fresh obstacles in their way.

22 Nov 2025 - 11:43PM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s BN(O) holders face tougher English test, possible income threshold

UK says it expects ‘vast majority of BN(O)s’ already able to meet revised English requirement, which will be equivalent to British A-level.

21 Nov 2025 - 11:24PM

People view the London skyline. Photo: AFP

BN(O) passport

Fate of BN(O) scheme for Hongkongers uncertain despite UK’s latest commitment

UK to announce consultations later this week to discuss proposed changes to make asylum seekers wait 20 years, up from five-year requirement.

18 Nov 2025 - 5:45PM

Britain has reaffirmed its commitment to Hongkongers it “repatriated” under a bespoke migration pathway. Photo: AFP

Europe’s refugee crisis

UK toughens asylum policy as anti-immigration sentiment rises

Policy overhaul seeks greater control over who can remain in Britain as tens of thousands of people claim asylum.

18 Nov 2025 - 1:34PM

Britain

UK says it’s ending ‘golden ticket’ for refugees with asylum overhaul

Those given refugee status will have it for 30 months instead of five years, and must wait 20 years to apply to live in the UK long term.

16 Nov 2025 - 8:26AMvideocam

Britain

UK health secretary denies plot to topple Starmer as prime minister

Wes Streeting says he supports Keir Starmer, as opinion polls suggest he is one of the most unpopular prime ministers of all time.

12 Nov 2025 - 6:17PM

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: Reuters

Britain

Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder over UK train stabbing spree

The suspect, identified as Anthony Williams, faces multiple charges but terror is not suspected.

4 Nov 2025 - 4:15AMvideocam

Police officers and search the track in front of a train in Huntingdon, England, on Saturday following a stabbing spree. Photo: AFP

Crime

UK police release 1 of 2 men over train stabbing attack, laud ‘heroic’ worker

Eleven people were injured in Saturday’s attack, and a railway staff member who ‘saved lives’ remains in a life-threatening condition.

3 Nov 2025 - 4:53PMvideocam

Crime

Police rule out terrorism in stabbing attack on UK train after 2 men are arrested

The suspects were arrested at Huntingdon station near Cambridge. Eleven people were injured in the attack, 2 remain in critical condition.

3 Nov 2025 - 12:25AM

Britain

UK police investigate mosque fire as ‘hate crime’ after synagogue attack

Arson in town of Peacehaven follows a fatal synagogue assault in Manchester, which police linked to potential Islamist extremism.

6 Oct 2025 - 11:29AM

Sussex Police shared images of masked men dressed in dark clothing and appealed for help from the public to identify them. Photo: Sussex Police via dpa

Keir Starmer

Starmer warns UK Labour is in ‘fight of our lives’ as party meets

The gathering comes amid talk of a possible leadership challenge, with Labour lagging well behind Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform UK party.

29 Sep 2025 - 1:55AM

Britain

Protesters clash with police at 110,000-strong far-right rally in London

Some demonstrators displayed images of Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist and Trump ally who was killed in Utah this week.

14 Sep 2025 - 6:56AM

Britain

Grim night on English Channel as 3 die, 3 go missing trying to cross to UK

The three who died were believed to have been crushed, French officials said, calling it ‘a night unlike any they had seen in months’.

11 Sep 2025 - 1:43AM

Migrants onboard a smuggler’s boat attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Hardelot in Neufchatel-Hardelot, northern France. Photo: AFP

Europe’s refugee crisis

Five Eyes meeting to focus on ‘smashing’ people smuggling gangs

The UK will host ministers from allied countries with an aim to boost border security, tackle other crime issues.

8 Sep 2025 - 10:05AM

Britain

Criminals in UK could face pub bans and travel curbs under tough new laws

The government aims to reduce crime and ease prison overcrowding with these measures.

24 Aug 2025 - 8:43AM

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Shabana Mahmood

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood agreed to ban the march after police said it was organised by a group ‘supportive of the Iranian regime’.

Applications miss target as 670 Hongkongers settle in UK with BN(O) visa

‘Strong and united’: UK’s Starmer defiant as Epstein fallout dogs leadership

UK expands BN(O) scheme to more Hongkongers following Jimmy Lai sentencing

Britain’s Home Office says those under 18 during 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for scheme.

UK plans to create a ‘British FBI’ national police force

The new National Police Service will tackle the most complex and serious crimes, the UK government says.

Mobile seizure powers launch in UK crackdown on people smugglers

New UK laws allow officers to seize SIM cards and mobiles to gather intelligence on smuggling operators.

Labour MPs urge UK to protect Hong Kong BN(O) migrants from residency reforms

Lawmakers voice ‘significant concerns’ that tighter residency criteria could undermine efforts to safeguard Hongkongers’ settlement pathway.

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | BN(0) visa holders deserve clarity on the pathway to a new life in the UK

Hong Kong people are precisely the sort of migrants Britain wants. Yet radical immigration reforms place fresh obstacles in their way.

Hong Kong’s BN(O) holders face tougher English test, possible income threshold

UK says it expects ‘vast majority of BN(O)s’ already able to meet revised English requirement, which will be equivalent to British A-level.

Fate of BN(O) scheme for Hongkongers uncertain despite UK’s latest commitment

UK to announce consultations later this week to discuss proposed changes to make asylum seekers wait 20 years, up from five-year requirement.

UK toughens asylum policy as anti-immigration sentiment rises

Policy overhaul seeks greater control over who can remain in Britain as tens of thousands of people claim asylum.

UK says it’s ending ‘golden ticket’ for refugees with asylum overhaul

Those given refugee status will have it for 30 months instead of five years, and must wait 20 years to apply to live in the UK long term.

UK health secretary denies plot to topple Starmer as prime minister

Wes Streeting says he supports Keir Starmer, as opinion polls suggest he is one of the most unpopular prime ministers of all time.

Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder over UK train stabbing spree

The suspect, identified as Anthony Williams, faces multiple charges but terror is not suspected.

UK police release 1 of 2 men over train stabbing attack, laud ‘heroic’ worker

Eleven people were injured in Saturday’s attack, and a railway staff member who ‘saved lives’ remains in a life-threatening condition.

Police rule out terrorism in stabbing attack on UK train after 2 men are arrested

The suspects were arrested at Huntingdon station near Cambridge. Eleven people were injured in the attack, 2 remain in critical condition.

UK police investigate mosque fire as ‘hate crime’ after synagogue attack

Arson in town of Peacehaven follows a fatal synagogue assault in Manchester, which police linked to potential Islamist extremism.

Starmer warns UK Labour is in ‘fight of our lives’ as party meets

The gathering comes amid talk of a possible leadership challenge, with Labour lagging well behind Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform UK party.

Protesters clash with police at 110,000-strong far-right rally in London

Some demonstrators displayed images of Charlie Kirk, the US conservative activist and Trump ally who was killed in Utah this week.

Grim night on English Channel as 3 die, 3 go missing trying to cross to UK

The three who died were believed to have been crushed, French officials said, calling it ‘a night unlike any they had seen in months’.

Five Eyes meeting to focus on ‘smashing’ people smuggling gangs

The UK will host ministers from allied countries with an aim to boost border security, tackle other crime issues.

Criminals in UK could face pub bans and travel curbs under tough new laws

The government aims to reduce crime and ease prison overcrowding with these measures.

My Take | BN(0) visa holders deserve clarity on the pathway to a new life in the UK