Shabana Mahmood Appointed UK Home Secretary in Major Cabinet Reshuffle

Shabana Mahmood has been appointed as the new UK Home Secretary in a major cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer following Angela Rayner's resignation over a stamp duty breach. Mahmood, previously Justice Secretary, takes over the Home Office amidst significant challenges including record Channel crossings, asylum seeker accommodations, and migration policy pressures. David Lammy has been named Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, while Yvette Cooper moves to Foreign Secretary. Rayner’s resignation was prompted by an ethics investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty, which she acknowledged and took responsibility for. Mahmood's appointment signals the government's prioritization of immigration control and asylum management, with her background including efforts to reform the prison system and court backlogs. This reshuffle also results in three women holding the UK's key offices of state alongside the Prime Minister for the first time, underlining a historic moment in UK politics.