The UK government is set to unveil a tough new approach to deal with a longstanding impasse over the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the convicted leader of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang. Ahmed, who has served 14 years for 30 child rape offences and had his British nationality revoked following conviction, remains in the country due to a loophole in the Immigration Act 1971 that applies to individuals who arrived before 1973.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to outline her strategy to MPs today, which includes amending existing legislation to close this loophole. However, senior government sources suggest that a more forceful diplomatic approach will also be deployed, potentially involving visa restrictions against Pakistan if it continues to refuse Ahmed's repatriation.
Victims Minister Catherine Atkinson hinted at these tactics during an interview on the Today programme this morning. When asked about Pakistan's refusal to accept Ahmed, Ms Atkinson noted that the Home Secretary would make further announcements later today and highlighted Ms Mahmood's track record in securing removals through a combination of legislative changes and diplomatic pressure.
The government's strategy mirrors tactics previously employed in other deportation cases, where visa penalties were used to compel cooperation from countries such as Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Opposition MPs have called for a more robust approach, today's signals suggest the government is now aligned with this position.
Ms Atkinson declined to comment on whether the UK would consider returning political dissidents to Pakistan in exchange for Ahmed's deportation, but reiterated Ms Mahmood's reputation for achieving progress in complex cases where others deemed it impossible. The Home Secretary's statement today will be closely watched for details on both the legislative amendments and diplomatic measures intended to secure Ahmed's removal from the UK.