Shabana Mahmood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shabana Mahmood
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Home Secretary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 5 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Yvette Cooper | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| In office 5 July 2024 – 5 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Alex Chalk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | David Lammy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood |
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| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Clare Short | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majority | 3,421 (9.4%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 September 1980 Small Heath, Birmingham, England |
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| Political party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Lincoln College, Oxford (BA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shabana Mahmood (born 17 September 1980) is an important British politician and a lawyer. She has been the Home Secretary since September 2025. Before this, she served as the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor from July 2024 to September 2025.
Shabana Mahmood has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. She is a member of the Labour Party. She is known for her focus on traditional values within her party.
She studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford and became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. She was one of the first female Muslim MPs in the UK. During her time in Parliament, she has held many important roles, helping to shape policies for the country.
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Who is Shabana Mahmood?
Shabana Mahmood was born in Birmingham, England, on 17 September 1980. Her parents came from Pakistan. She has a twin brother. For a few years, her family lived in Saudi Arabia, where her father worked as an engineer.
Early Life and Education
Shabana grew up in Birmingham. She attended Small Heath School and King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls. Her mother worked in a local shop, and her father was involved in local politics. Shabana often helped her father with his campaigns.
From a young age, Shabana was interested in becoming a lawyer. She studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford, which is part of the famous University of Oxford. She earned her degree in 2002.
Becoming a Barrister
After university, Shabana continued her legal training at the Inns of Court School of Law. She became a qualified barrister in 2003. A barrister is a lawyer who represents people in court. She specialized in a type of law called professional indemnity, which deals with protecting professionals from financial loss if they make a mistake. She worked at law firms from 2003 to 2007.
Her Journey in Politics
Shabana Mahmood's political career began when she was selected to represent the Labour Party in her local area.
Starting as an MP
In 2010, Shabana Mahmood was chosen to be the Labour Party candidate for Birmingham Ladywood. She won the election and became an MP. This was a special moment, as she became one of the first female Muslim MPs in the United Kingdom, alongside Rushanara Ali and Yasmin Qureshi.
While the Labour Party was not in government, Shabana held various "shadow" roles. These roles involve watching over government departments and suggesting different policies. She served as a Shadow Minister for Prisons, Higher Education, and as Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
In 2015, she was re-elected as MP for Birmingham Ladywood with even more votes. She was then promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Important Roles in Government
After a period of not being in the Shadow Cabinet, Shabana returned in 2021 as the National Campaign Coordinator for the Labour Party. This meant she helped organize and lead the party's campaigns. In 2023, she became the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.
Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor
After the Labour Party won the general election in July 2024, Shabana Mahmood was appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. This was a historic moment, as she became the first Muslim and third woman to hold the role of Lord Chancellor.
In this role, she was responsible for the justice system in England and Wales. She worked to improve the prison system and ensure that laws were fair and effective. She also responded to challenges to maintain law and order.
Home Secretary
On 5 September 2025, Shabana Mahmood was promoted to Home Secretary. This is one of the most senior positions in the government. As Home Secretary, she is responsible for national security, policing, immigration, and maintaining public safety across the UK. Her appointment was seen as a sign of a stronger approach to immigration policies.
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What Shabana Mahmood Believes In
Shabana Mahmood identifies as a social conservative within the Labour Party. This means she often supports traditional values and ideas.
Views on Peace and Rights
Shabana Mahmood has always been a strong supporter of peace and the rights of people in Palestine. She has participated in peaceful protests to raise awareness about these issues. She has also spoken out against violence targeting innocent civilians and has called for peace and the return of hostages.
When she was appointed Justice Secretary, she received support from leaders in the British Jewish community against online abuse. They praised her for being kind and supportive, especially on issues related to fighting prejudice.
Views on Education
Shabana Mahmood believes that education in schools should be suitable for the age of the students. She also thinks that schools should consider the different backgrounds of pupils when teaching certain topics. She has stated that she supports age-appropriate lessons that respect everyone in the community.
Personal Life
Shabana Mahmood is a devout Muslim. She has said that her faith is very important to her and guides her in her public service and daily life. She lives close to her parents.
Honours
On 6 July 2024, Shabana Mahmood became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King, and it allows her to use the title "The Right Honourable".
See also
In Spanish: Shabana Mahmood para niños
