The Conservative Party has proposed changes to UK legislation that could enable the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang, who was released from prison last week. Pakistani-born Ahmed, who had his British citizenship revoked in 2016, served 14 years of a 22-year sentence for multiple rape and sexual offense convictions against minors.
Under current provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 and the UK Borders Act 2007, Commonwealth citizens like Ahmed are protected from deportation, even if convicted of serious crimes. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has urged his Labour counterpart, Shabana Mahmood, to consider amendments to emergency legislation that would allow for Ahmed's immediate removal to Pakistan.
Philp's proposed amendments would repeal specific sections of the Immigration Act 1971 and the UK Borders Act 2007. These sections currently prevent the deportation of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain before 1973 and have resided there for over five years. Repealing these would classify Ahmed as a foreign criminal, subject to automatic deportation upon receiving a custodial sentence or a suspended sentence of one year or more.
The proposed changes also advocate for retrospective application of the legislation to include offenders like Ahmed, whose crimes occurred more than a decade ago. Philp stated that Britain "cannot allow" Ahmed to remain in the country, calling him a "vile rapist" and emphasizing that such individuals have no place in the UK. He indicated that a technical amendment would be tabled to the government's immigration bill to address this legal loophole.
Ahmed was released from HMP Leeds on Thursday after completing 14 years of his sentence for 30 child rape offenses. He was one of nine individuals convicted in 2012 for sexual offenses against multiple children in Rochdale, with prosecutors identifying him as a ringleader. Court proceedings revealed he had abused one victim for over a decade.
Other political figures have also weighed in on the matter. Health Secretary James Murray expressed a desire for Ahmed to be removed from the country, stating that "no stone unturned" should be left in the deportation effort. Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, suggested pausing aid and visas to Pakistan to exert pressure on the Pakistani government to accept Ahmed's return. He criticized past governments for perceived weakness in handling such cases and proposed halting approximately 80 million pounds in annual aid and tens of thousands of visas issued to Pakistani nationals.
Former Foreign Office figures have cautioned against aggressive tactics, with one insider warning that any action to force Ahmed's deportation could lead to Britain paying a "high price" in future negotiations, suggesting Pakistan could hold significant leverage.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also called for Ahmed's deportation, stating he is not British but a Pakistani national. He proposed repealing Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 and suspending all visas for Pakistanis until an agreement is reached for Ahmed's return.
A Downing Street spokesman previously stated that the issue had been raised with counterparts in Islamabad, and the government is committed to deporting foreign national offenders who should have no place in the country.