Does Labour’s new home secretary signal a harder line on immigration? – podcast

<p>Shabana Mahmood is already making headlines in her new role. But who is she and what motivates her?</p><p>Shabana Mahmood is now the first Muslim woman in one of the great offices of state. As the new home secretary she will be in charge of migration – one of the country’s most divisive issues. So who is she and what does she believe in?</p><p>The Guardian’s senior political correspondent, <strong>Peter Walker</strong>, tells Lucy Hough about Mahmood’s upbringing in Birmingham and her decision to become an MP at the age of 29. Being given the safe seat of Birmingham Ladywood, says Peter, was a sign that she was “who Labour bigwigs expected to be in parliament for a long time and would have hopes that they do something good with it”. Part of the Blue Labour movement, she retreated to the backbenches during the Corbyn era – only to return when Starmer took control of the Labour party.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/sep/23/labour-new-home-secretary-shabana-mahmood-immigration-podcast">Continue reading...</a>