How Shabana Mahmood’s Hardline Immigration Policy is Shaping Her Path to Number 10

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is now a top choice to become the UK's first Muslim Prime Minister. This comes as the British government deals with a major scandal involving the Jeffrey Epstein files.

With Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing plummeting approval ratings and internal dissent over his ties to the late Peter Mandelson, Mahmood’s ‘hardline’ stance on immigration has positioned her as a unique bridge between Labour’s right wing and traditional conservative voters.

A Rising Power Player in the Home Office

Shabana Mahmood has changed her image from an activist to a practical leader. She is a 45-year-old lawyer who studied at Oxford. Currently, she holds an important job as the Home Secretary and handles difficult tasks like border security and police work. Mahmood uses a ‘straight-talking’ style that many people favor. She is much tougher on migration than many other Labour members. Some people even call her ‘The Terminator’ on account of her firm views.

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As reported by The Economic Times on 9 February 2026: "Her background as a lawyer, her role in shaping migration policy, and her position within Labour's power structure have placed her among the leading names discussed as a potential successor."

She helped pass the 2025 Border Security Act, which gave the government more power to deport people. Her supporters think she can stop right-wing rivals. However, some people in her own party think she is being too harsh. They worry she is forgetting the party's kind values.

Will Shabana Mahmood’s Immigration Overhaul Cost Her the Leadership?

Most online sources talk about who will win the next election. They miss how Mahmood’s ‘Earned Settlement’ plan will affect real people. Her plan wants to make people wait ten years instead of five to live in the UK permanently. This could hurt nearly 300,000 children and many healthcare workers. About 40 members of her own party are very angry about this. They say the plan is ‘un-British’ and unfair to families.

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The Guardian highlighted the depth of this internal rift on 9 February 2026, noting: "Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity... nearly a quarter of the 1.35 million people already on routes to settlement are children."

This plan is risky for Mahmood. In six months, many healthcare workers might leave the United Kingdom for other countries. They will want more stability for their families. Her tough talk makes her popular with some voters; however, it also creates a division in her party. If she cannot bring the party together, she might lose her chance to lead the country.