A UK minister has suggested Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan to secure the deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Minister Cather Atkinson hinted the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it accepts Shabir Ahmed.
- Mahmood is due to tell MPs how she plans to amend the law so Ahmed can be deported.
- MPs are debating the second reading of the immigration and asylum bill.
- A Home Office statement on security is expected following the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is at the centre of several major stories in Westminster, according to a Guardian live blog published on 13 July 2026. Minister Cather Atkinson hinted that the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Shabir Ahmed, the Rochdale grooming gang leader.
Mahmood is due to give MPs details of how she plans to amend the law so that Ahmed can be deported. According to the Guardian, the home secretary is expected to have more to announce on the matter later in the day, having been clear that the government will take action to see Ahmed removed.
The Guardian reports that a minister pointed to the success Mahmood has had with removals in previous cases as a sign of the government’s intent to press ahead with the deportation.
Mahmood is also involved in the second reading of the immigration and asylum bill, which MPs are debating. Labour MPs opposed to her plans may speak out during the debate. Her most controversial proposal — extending the amount of time migrant workers must wait before applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) — is not part of the bill itself, though the Guardian notes it would be surprising if ILR does not come up.
A Home Office statement on security is also expected in the light of the murder of Ann Widdecombe. The Guardian reports that police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder and have said there is currently no evidence the killing was politically motivated.
Despite the police assessment, the Guardian notes that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has suggested the killing was politically motivated.
Why it matters
The case tests how far the UK government will go, including diplomatic leverage over visas, to remove a high-profile offender. It also spotlights wider tensions over immigration policy, including proposals affecting migrant workers' path to settlement.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Shabir Ahmed?
According to the Guardian, Shabir Ahmed is described as the Rochdale grooming gang leader whom the home secretary is seeking to deport to Pakistan.
What is the home secretary planning to do?
The Guardian reports that Shabana Mahmood is due to tell MPs how she plans to amend the law so Ahmed can be deported, and a minister hinted the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it accepts him.
Is Ann Widdecombe's murder being treated as politically motivated?
The Guardian reports that police, who have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, have said there is currently no evidence the killing was politically motivated, though Nigel Farage has suggested otherwise.