Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will amend the immigration bill to make it possible to deport Shabir Ahmed, a leader of the Rochdale grooming gang, overriding a 1971 law that currently prevents his removal.
Key facts
- Shabana Mahmood plans to amend the immigration bill to allow the deportation of the Rochdale grooming gang.
- The change is described as the first step in removing Shabir Ahmed from the UK.
- Ahmed currently cannot be deported because of a 1971 law applying to long-resident Commonwealth citizens.
- The amendment would allow deportation of Commonwealth citizens convicted of serious criminality.
- Andy Burnham was expected to vote in favour of the home secretary's changes.
The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will amend the immigration bill to allow the deportation of the Rochdale grooming gang, according to the Guardian. The move is described as the first step in removing Shabir Ahmed from the UK.
At present, Ahmed cannot be deported because of a 1971 law that applies to Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago. The proposed amendment is intended to close what the Guardian described as a legal loophole.
The Guardian reported that the amendment would make it possible to deport Commonwealth citizens convicted of serious criminality, broadening the government’s ability to remove long-resident individuals in such cases.
The changes are part of wider adjustments to the immigration bill and the asylum system being brought forward by the home secretary. Andy Burnham was expected to vote in favour of the home secretary’s proposals, according to the Guardian.
The reported measure targets the specific circumstances that have so far shielded Ahmed from removal, addressing the interaction between his conviction and the protections afforded under the decades-old law.
The Guardian’s coverage frames the amendment as both a response to a specific case and a broader legislative shift affecting Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the UK for many years.
Why it matters
The amendment could change how the UK handles the deportation of long-resident Commonwealth citizens convicted of serious crimes, an area previously constrained by a 1971 law. It also signals the government's intent to reshape parts of the immigration and asylum system in response to high-profile cases.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't Shabir Ahmed currently be deported?
According to the Guardian, Ahmed cannot be deported because of a 1971 law that applies to Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.
What is the home secretary proposing to change?
Shabana Mahmood plans to amend the immigration bill to make it possible to deport Commonwealth citizens convicted of serious criminality, which the Guardian says would be the first step in removing Ahmed from the UK.
Was there political support for the change?
The Guardian reported that Andy Burnham was expected to vote in favour of the home secretary's changes to the legal loophole and asylum system.