Labour’s new home secretary Shabana Mahmood has come under fire after pledging to accelerate deportation flights under Keir Starmer’s “One in, one out” refugee agreement with France.
Mahmood has faced criticism for branding some asylum claims as “vexatious” and insisting that migrants who legally challenge deportations “make a mockery of our laws.” She said: “Last minute attempts to frustrate a removal are intolerable, and I will fight them at every step. I will robustly defend the British public’s priorities in any court. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our border.”
This week the first “One in, one out” case went before the courts, with a judge imposing a 14-day delay on the deportation of an Eritrean man who had been exploited in Libya. Mahmood’s Home Office immediately appealed the ruling and confirmed the man would still be removed. A second individual has also been earmarked for deportation back to France.
Mahmood has also announced a fast-track review of the Modern Slavery Act, arguing that it has given grounds for “unmerited” appeals against deportation. The move has been compared by critics to Reform UK’s long-standing attacks on human rights legislation.
Anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons warned that Mahmood’s stance risks serious harm to victims of trafficking. She said: “There is no substantive evidence to suggest this system is being misused. Victims of modern slavery have endured horrific exploitation at the hands of criminals. Many victims are fearful of their traffickers and speaking about their experiences.”
Ahmed Aydeed, a solicitor specialising in trafficking law, added: “There is no abuse of the system as confirmed by parliament. There are, however, systemic government failings in following their own guidance on taking basic relevant information from victims of trafficking. These government failings further harm victims, benefit trafficking gangs and waste significant public funds.”
Critics say Mahmood’s hardline approach risks dehumanising refugees and legitimising far-right narratives, while campaigners continue to demand stronger protections for asylum seekers and trafficking victims.
