Shabana Mahmood: Difference between revisions

| honorific-suffix = [[King’sKing's Counsel |KC]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]

| subterm = 2023 – 20242023–2024

| subterm3 = 2013 – 20152013–2015

| subterm5 = 2011 – 20132011–2013

| subterm6 = 2010 – 20112010–2011

'''Shabana Mahmood''' ({{lang-ur|شبانہ محمود}}; born 17 September 1980) is a British politician and barrister who has been serving as [[Lord Chancellor]] and [[Secretary of State for Justice]] since 2024.<ref name="ministerialappts24">{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705113848/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], she has been [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Birmingham Ladywood]] since 2010. Between 2010 and 2024 she held various shadow junior ministerial and shadow cabinet positions under leaders [[Ed Miliband]], [[Harriet Harman]], and [[Keir Starmer]].

Mahmood graduated with an [[upper-second class]] degree in 2002Law from [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln College]], [[University of Oxford]],<ref>{{Cite webin |url=https://archives.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/records/LC/P/R/1/80 |title=Archival record confirming second-class degree |page=64 |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="Lincoln2001">{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2001–2002 |title=Lincoln College Record |url=https://archives.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/records/LC/P/R/1/80 |magazine=Lincoln College Record |issue=80 |page=64 |publisher=Lincoln College}}</ref>2002 and went on to complete the [[Bar Vocational Course]] at the [[Inns of Court School of Law]] in 2003 after receiving a scholarship. As a barrister, her specialism is in [[professional indemnity]]. Her selection as the Labour Party candidate for Birmingham Ladywood for the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]] caused some dissent in the constituency party, but was found by an inquiry led by a member of the [[National Executive Committee of the Labour Party]] to be legitimate. She was subsequently elected as MP for Birmingham Ladywood, becoming one of the UK's first female [[Muslim]] MPs, along with [[Rushanara Ali]] and [[Yasmin Qureshi]]. SheBetween then2010 heldand numerous2024, frontbenchwhile positionsthe fromLabour OctoberParty 2010was tothe May[[His 2015Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition|Official Opposition]], lastlyshe asheld various [[shadow cabinet|shadow]] frontbench positions, including [[Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury]] from 2013 to 2015.

After the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], Mahmood was promoted to the [[Shadow cabinet|Shadow Cabinet]] and served as [[Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury]] in the interim [[Second Shadow Cabinet of Harriet Harman|Shadow Cabinet of Harriet Harman]]. Following [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|election as Labour leader]], Mahmood resigned from the position and declined to serve in [[Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn|Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet]]. She supported [[Owen Smith]] in the attempt to replace Corbyn in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 leadership election]]. After serving on the backbenches between 2015 and 2021, Mahmood returned to the shadow cabinet in the [[May 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle|May 2021 British Shadow Cabinet reshuffle]] under Labour Leader Keir Starmer as the Party's National Campaign Coordinator. In the [[2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle|September 2023 British Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle]], Starmer appointed Mahmood [[Shadow Secretary of State for Justice]] and [[Shadow Lord Chancellor]].

Following Labour's victory in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Mahmood was appointed [[Lord Chancellor]] and [[Secretary of State for Justice]] in Starmer’sStarmer's [[Starmer ministry|government]]. During her tenure, she has implemented an early release scheme for thousands of prisoners in order to reduce prison overcrowding.

Shabana Mahmood was born on 17 September 1980 in [[Birmingham]],<ref name="SM11">{{citethe web|url=http://www.shabanamahmood.org/about-shabana|title=Aboutdaughter Shabanaof MahmoodZubaida |website=Shabanaand Mahmood's website |access-date=7 December 2011|archive-url=https://webAhmed.archive.org/web/20111214232230/http://www.shabanamahmood.org/about-shabana|archive-date=14 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.shabanamahmood.org/about/ |website=Shabana Mahmood's website |access-date=23 April 2024 |archive-date=18 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118220744/https://www.shabanamahmood.org/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DODS">{{cite book |title=Dods Parliamentary Companion 2018 |year=2017 |publisher=Dods |location=London |isbn=978-1-908232-27-4 |page=249}}</ref> the daughter of Zubaida and Mahmood Ahmed.<ref name="SM11"/> Her parents are of [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]] descent with roots in [[Mirpur, Azad Kashmir|Mirpur]], [[Azad Kashmir|Kashmir]].<ref name="ARN">{{cite news|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2550701/pakistan|title=Pakistan-origin Shabana Mahmood is UK’sUK's first Muslim woman Lord Chancellor|work=Arab News|date=16 July 2024|access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref> She has a twin brother.<ref name="POG"/> From 1981 to 1986 she lived with her family in [[Taif]], [[Saudi Arabia]], where her father was working as a civil engineer on [[desalination]].<ref name="SM11ARN"/><ref name="POG"/> After that, she was brought up in Birmingham, where, having failed the [[eleven-plus]], she attended [[Small Heath School]] and [[King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls]].<ref name="first">{{cite news|last1=Adetunji|first1=Jo|last2=Tran|first2=Mark|date=7 May 2010|title=General election 2010: first female Muslim MPs elected|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/general-election-female-muslim-mps|url-status=live|access-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407070956/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/general-election-female-muslim-mps|archive-date=7 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="personal">{{cite web|title=Shabana Mahmood MP|url=http://www.shabanamahmood.org/ |website=Shabana Mahmood's website |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905222253/http://www.shabanamahmood.org/|archive-date=5 September 2011|access-date=7 May 2010}} Retrieved 7 December 2011</ref><ref name="DODS"/><ref name="POG"/>

Mahmood studied law at [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln College]] at the [[University of Oxford]], and was the president of the [[Junior Common Room]] (JCR).<ref>{{cite news|last=Roy|first=Amit|title=Feisty Asians in UK poll fray|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100407/jsp/foreign/story_12311630.jsp|work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|Kolkata Telegraph]]|date=7 April 2010|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611145357/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100407/jsp/foreign/story_12311630.jsp|archive-date=11 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> She graduated with an [[upper-second class]] degree in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archives.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/records/LC/P/R/1/80 |title= Lincoln College Record 2001–2002, 2002|publisher=Lincoln College|page=64 |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="Lincoln2001">{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2001–2002 |title=Lincoln College Record |url=https://archives.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/records/LC/P/R/1/80 |magazine=Lincoln College Record |issue=80 |page=64 |publisher=Lincoln College}}</ref> In 2023 she recalled that [[Rishi Sunak]], who would go on to become [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]], was in the year above her at Lincoln College, and had promised to vote for her in the JCR election.<ref name="ZEFF23">{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Zeffman |title=PM once voted for woman trying to oust him; Shabana Mahmood, the Labour campaign chief, knows Sunak from their days at Oxford |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/shabana-mahmood-the-woman-behind-labours-election-campaign-pk5vx3bn3 |date=87 April 2023 |newspaper=The Times |page=10 |archive-url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA744712890&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=biddle&aty=ip |archive-date=8 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Clare Short]], the incumbent [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Birmingham Ladywood]], decided not to contest the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]].<ref name="AKPE"/> Mahmood and a local councillor, [[Yvonne Mosquito]], both sought the Labour Party nomination.<ref name="AKPE">{{cite journal |last1=Akhtar |first1=Parveen |last2=Peace |first2=Timothy |title=Ethnic minorities in British politics: candidate selection and clan politics in the Labour Party |journal=Journal of Ethnic &and Migration Studies |year=2019 |volume=45 |issue=11 |pages=1902–1918 |doi=10.1080/1369183X.2018.1443804 |url=https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/157522/7/157522.pdf |access-date=5 July 2024 |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116202426/https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/157522/7/157522.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the vote of constituencyConstituency Labour Party (CLP) members to select the candidate, Mahmood secured 118 votes while Mosquito received 99.<ref name="NECRULES"/> Supporters of Mosquito claimed that up to 30 members were prevented from voting for her following a rule change affecting eligibility.<ref name="NECRULES">{{cite news |title=Labour NEC rules in favour of Shabana Mahmood in Ladywood selection row |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/labour-nec-rules-in-favour-of-shabana-82434 |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=23 April 2024 |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423233953/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/labour-nec-rules-in-favour-of-shabana-82434 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the political scholars Parveen Akhtar and Timothy Peace, "This led to the CLP being temporarily split on race lines between Asian and Afro-Caribbean factions, demonstrating the complicated ethnic tensions at play in some U.K. constituencies."<ref name="AKPE"/> Mahmood said that she did not feel that the local party was divided in this way, and commented that "I know there is a line out there about divisions, my experience doesn't mirror that in any way."<ref>{{cite web |first=Jonathan |last=Walker |title=Ladywood not divided by race or religion – candidate |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/ladywood-not-divided-race-religion-3959286 |website=Business Live |date=19 June 2008 |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424160915/https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/ladywood-not-divided-race-religion-3959286 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Walker |title=Ladywood not divided by race or religion – candidate |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=20 June 2008 |page=4}}</ref> An inquiry led by [[National Executive Committee of the Labour Party]] member Mike Griffiths found that Mahmood's victory was legitimate.<ref name="NECRULES"/>

At the 2010 general election, Mahmood was elected as MP for Birmingham Ladywood with 55.7% of the vote and a majority of 10,105.<ref name="electoralcalculus2010">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll 2010 |date=20 April 2010|publisher=Birmingham City Council |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?%26ssbinary=true&blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1223417397253&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3D58210PGE+-+Statement+of+Persons+Nominated+and+Notice+of+Poll+2010.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629132535/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?&ssbinary=true&blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1223417397253&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename=58210PGE+-+Statement+of+Persons+Nominated+and+Notice+of+Poll+2010.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Birmingham Ladywood |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a35.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823092523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a35.stm |archive-date=23 August 2017 |access-date=6 May 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/general-election-2010 General Election 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124063936/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/general-election-2010 |date=24 November 2011 }} Birmingham City Council</ref> Along with [[Rushanara Ali]] and [[Yasmin Qureshi]], Mahmood became one of the UK's first female [[Muslim]] MPs.<ref name=first /> MahmoodThe servedLabour inParty awas numberthe of[[His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition|Official Opposition]], and Mahmood held various [[shadow cabinet]] front bench positions under new leader [[Ed Miliband]]'s leadership, including Shadow Minister for Prisons, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, and [[Financial Secretary to the Treasury|Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ed Miliband is elected leader of the Labour Party |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11412031 |date=25 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wih.web.ox.ac.uk/people/shabana-mahmood-mp|title=Shabana Mahmood MP {{!}} Women in the Humanities|website=wih.web.ox.ac.uk|access-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215143055/https://wih.web.ox.ac.uk/people/shabana-mahmood-mp|archive-date=15 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], Mahmood was re-elected as MP for Birmingham Ladywood with an increased vote share of 73.6% and an increased majority of 21,868.<ref name="electoralcalculus2015">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref> Following the election, Mahmood was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as [[Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shabana Manmood: Parliamentary career |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/3914/career |website=Parliament UK |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518133537/https://members.parliament.uk/member/3914/career |url-status=live }}</ref> SheNationwide, the Labour Party's election results were below expectations, and party leader Ed Miliband resigned the following day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Labour election results: Ed Miliband resigns as leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32633388 |website=BBC News |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508003709/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32633388 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mahmood was a co-chair of the campaign to elect [[Yvette Cooper]] in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015 Labour Party leadership election]], and made a pledge to avoid negative briefing during the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |first=Frances |last=Perraudin |title=No negative briefing in Labour contest, urges Yvette Cooper aide |date=16 June 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/16/no-negative-briefing-labour-leadership-yvette-cooper-aide |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525060612/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/16/no-negative-briefing-labour-leadership-yvette-cooper-aide |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2015, following [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s election as Labour leader, Mahmood stepped down from the role, saying she "strongly disagreed" with him on the economy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-resigned-labour-team-10054959|title=Birmingham MP resigned because she 'strongly disagreed' with Corbyn on economy|last=Walker|first=Jonathan|date=15 September 2015|newspaper=Birmingham Mail|access-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122221457/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-resigned-labour-team-10054959|archive-date=22 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> InThe Januaryfollowing 2016month, Mahmoodshe was electedone to representof the [[Parliamentarywinners Labourof Party]] onthe Labourwomen's magazine ''[[NationalMarie Executive Committee of the Labour Party|National Executive CommitteeClaire]],''{{'}}s and''Women wasat re-electedthe inTop July 2016Awards''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-shabana-mahmood-represent-10798624|title=Birminghamweb MP Shabana Mahmood represents Labour MPs on party's ruling committee|last=WalkerRice |first=Jonathan|date=27Francesca January 2016|newspaper=Birmingham Mail|access-date=221 NovemberOctober 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404235426/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-shabana-mahmood-represent-10798624|archive-date=42014 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://labourlist.org/2016/07/corbynistas-and-rebels-make-gains-on-nec-as-skinner-steps-down/|title=CorbynistasOur andWomen rebelsAt makeThe NECTop gainsAward asWinners SkinnerShare stepsTheir down|date=4Top JulyCareer 2016|newspaper=LabourList|access-date=22 NovemberAdvice 2016|archive-url=https://webwww.archivemarieclaire.org/web/20170109083707/http://labourlistco.orguk/2016life/07work/corbynistasour-and2014-rebelswomen-makeat-gainsthe-ontop-necwinners-asshare-skinnertheir-stepstop-down/|archivecareer-date=9advice-46354 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She was offered a place in [[Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn|Corbyn's shadow cabinet]], but declined, telling him that "I'll be miserable, and I'll make you miserable as well."<ref name="ZEFF23" /> In November 2016, Mahmood was elected one of the vice chairs of Labour's [[National Policy Forum]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Black |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Black |url=https://www.annblack.co.uk/national-policy-forum-november-2016/ |title=National Policy Forum, November 2016 |website=Ann Black on the Record |date=6 November 2016 |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2022080715423020190725042824/httphttps://www.annblackmarieclaire.co.uk/nationallife/work/our-policy2014-forumwomen-novemberat-2016/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She supported [[Owen Smith]] in the failed attempt to replace [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 Labour Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mpstop-andwinners-mepsshare-havetheir-nominatedtop-owencareer-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owenadvice-46354 Smith|archive-date=2125 July 2016|website=LabourList|language=en-GB2019 |access-date=1516 JulyDecember 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715214543/https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|archive-datewebsite=15Marie JulyClaire 2019|url-statuslanguage=liveen}}</ref>

In September 2023, [[Keir Starmer]] appointed Mahmood, seen as an ally of his, as [[Shadow Secretary of State for Justice]] in September 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stone |first1=Jon |title=Labour reshuffle: Keir Starmer's new shadow cabinet in full |date=4 September 2023 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-reshuffle-in-full-keir-starmer-b2404512.html |website=independent.co.uk |publisher=Independent |access-date=6 September 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906133812/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-reshuffle-in-full-keir-starmer-b2404512.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RESHUFF">{{cite news |editor-first1=Alexandra |editor-last1=Fouché |editor-first2=Heather |editor-last2=Sharp |title=Angela Rayner gets new role as Keir Starmer reshuffles Labour team |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-66701628 |work=BBC News |date= |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=20 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120152534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-66701628 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was replaced as campaign co-ordinator by [[Pat McFadden]].<ref name="RESHUFF" /> Also that month, Mahmood was named by the ''[[New Statesman]]'' as the UK's twentieth most powerful left-wing figure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statesman |first=New |date=17 May 2023 |title=The New Statesman's left power list |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/the-new-statesmans-left-power-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115165413/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/the-new-statesmans-left-power-list |archive-date=15 November 2023 |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Mahmood was re-elected with a decreased share of 42.5% and a majority of 3,421.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Birmingham Ladywood -– General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001096 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> She had been challenged by independent candidate [[Akhmed Yakoob]], whose campaign focused on support for Palestine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Jessica |title=Birmingham election candidate apologises for 'deeply disturbing' remarks about women |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/24/birmingham-election-candidate-akhmed-yakoob-apologises-for-deeply-disturbing-remarks-about-women |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 June 2024 }}</ref><ref name="FMCH">{{cite news |first=Eleanor |last=Lawson |date=5 July 2024 |title=Female MPs call harassment an assault on democracy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ng3j1pnpqo |website=BBC News}}</ref> Yakoob finished second behind Mahmood, with 12,137 votes,<ref>{{cite news |last=Haynes |first=Jane |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mp-shabana-mahmood-armed-police-29480409 |website=Birmingham Live |title=MP Shabana Mahmood had armed police guard as election intimidation became 'assault on democracy' |date= 5 July 2024}}</ref> following a campaign that Mahmood described as "sullied by harassment and intimidation".<ref name="FMCH"/>

On 5 July 2024, Starmer appointed Mahmood as the [[Secretary of State for Justice]] and [[Lord Chancellor]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cross |first1=Michael |title=Shabana Mahmood appointed lord chancellor and justice secretary in Starmer cabinet |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/mahmood-appointed-lord-chancellor/5120245.article#:~:text=Birmingham%20MP%20and%20former%20practising,Starmer's%20appointment%20as%20prime%20minister. |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Law Gazette |agency=The Law Society |date=5 July 2024 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705165559/https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/mahmood-appointed-lord-chancellor/5120245.article#:~:text=Birmingham%20MP%20and%20former%20practising,Starmer's%20appointment%20as%20prime%20minister. |url-status=live }}</ref> This made her the first Muslim and second female Lord Chancellor in history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Obiter|date=11 July 2024-07-11T00:01:00+01:00 |title=Oooh. Suits you, madam |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/obiter/oooh-suits-you-madam/5120286.article |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Law Gazette |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/554483-shabana-mahmood-sworn-in-as-uks-first-woman-muslim-lord-chancellor|title=Shabana Mahmood sworn in as UK's first woman Muslim Lord Chancellor|website=Geo News |date=16 July 2024}}</ref> Conservative Party politician [[Liz Truss]] was the first woman to hold the role, having been appointed in the [[first May ministry]] in July 2016 as the first female lord chancellor in the office's thousand-year history.<ref name="OUTBLU">{{Cite book |last1=Cole |first1=Harry |title=[[Out of the Blue: The Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss]] |last2=Heale |first2=James |date=2022 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0-00-860578-0 |author-link1=Harry Cole (journalist) |pages=129,132}}</ref>{{efn|Excluding [[Eleanor of Provence]], who exercised the powers of the lord chancellor in 1253 but was not formally appointed to the office.<ref name="OUTBLU">{{Cite book |last1=Cole |first1=Harry |title=[[Out of the Blue: The Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss]] |last2=Heale |first2=James |date=2022 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0-00-860578-0 |author-link1=Harry Cole (journalist) |pages=129,132}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=21 July 2016 |title=Liz Truss sworn in as first ever female Lord Chancellor |url=https://www.geotheguardian.tvcom/politics/2016/jul/21/liz-truss-first-ever-female-lord-chancellor-justice-secretary |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 January 2017 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013231141/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/21/liz-truss-first-ever-female-lord-chancellor-justice-secretary |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

OnA 12week after her Julyappointment, she announced measures intended to decrease prison overcrowding, describing the situation in prisons as a ticking "time bomb" and saying that prisons were on the "point of collapse.".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Thousands of prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crg5vp0296eo |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-12 |title=Lord Chancellor sets out immediate action to defuse ticking prison ‘time'time-bomb’bomb' |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-chancellor-sets-out-immediate-action-to-defuse-ticking-prison-time-bomb |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> Under her plans, some prisoners would be released after serving 40% of their sentences in England and Wales, rather than the 50% announced previously in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=2024-07-13 |title=Fears UK prisons face ‘collapse’'collapse' as they could be full before early release scheme begins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/13/fears-uk-prisons-face-collapse-as-they-could-be-full-before-early-release-scheme-begins |access-date=2024-07-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> She stated that she expected that the number of prisoners to be released in September 2024 would be "in the low thousands", with further releases over the following 18 months with updates in parliament every three months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-12 |title=UK to release thousands of prisoners due to overcrowding |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-release-thousands-prisoners-due-162430219.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> This included 37 who were not eligible for early release. At least one is suspected to have gone on to offend again.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller & Rawnsley |title=Reoffending prisoner was let out by mistake, BBC told|date=26 September 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy43kkw7pn2o#:~:text=Dozens%20of%20prisoners%20convicted%20of%20breaching%20restraining%20orders,was%20down%20to%20their%20offence%20being%20logged%20incorrectly. |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref>

*[http://www.shabanamahmood.org/ Shabana Mahmood MP] ''Official constituency website''{{UK MP links | parliament = shabana-mahmood/3914 | guardian = 1355/shabana-mahmood | publicwhip = Shabana_Mahmood | theywork = shabana_mahmood | record = Shabana-Mahmood/Birmingham-Ladywood/1132 | bbc = 72715.stm | journalisted = }}

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{{Lord Chancellor}}
{{Labour Party UK MPs}}
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