The UK government has pledged to 'leave no stone unturned' in its efforts to deport Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, following his release from prison on July 2, 2026. Health Secretary James Murray confirmed the government's determination to remove Ahmed, who has been stripped of his British citizenship and now holds only Pakistani nationality.
Background of the Case
Ahmed, known to his victims as 'Daddy', was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2012 for offences against five girls. He served 14 years and was released on licence, required to live at a staffed bail hostel and wear an electronic GPS tag. He is banned from his last known address in Oldham and subject to an exclusion zone preventing him from entering parts of Rochdale.
Despite losing his British citizenship, Ahmed cannot be deported due to a 1971 law that prohibits the removal of certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK over 50 years ago. This legal loophole has sparked public outrage and calls for reform.
Government's Stance
Speaking on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Health Secretary James Murray stated: 'I want this man out of the country, I think we all do. I know that this is a job for the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary to work out the exact way of getting him deported. I'm not going to step on their toes by suggesting exactly how they should do that. But I don't think they would object to me saying that as a government we should leave no stone unturned.'
When asked whether measures could include withholding aid from Pakistan or blocking remittances, Murray declined to speculate, saying: 'That is their responsibility to think through the best way of getting the outcome we all want, which is this man to be out of our country.'
Political and Diplomatic Efforts
A No 10 spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that the government has raised the issue with Pakistani authorities. 'We have raised this issue with our counterparts in Islamabad and we are committed to doing everything possible to deport foreign national offenders,' she said. 'We're clear that they should have no place in this country. As previous governments have found, this necessarily involves the agreement of the receiving country – which has not always been possible – but we are currently working across Government to explore all possible options in this case.'
The spokeswoman added: 'We're absolutely clear that where foreign nationals commit offences in the UK we will do everything in our power to remove them, and that is why in this particular awful case, the Prime Minister has asked the Home Secretary to consider what can be done to remove this individual from the UK. This is clearly a complex case with implications beyond this specific incident.'
Public and Political Reaction
The release of Ahmed has reignited debate over the 1971 law and the government's ability to deport dangerous offenders. Critics argue that the loophole must be closed to prevent similar situations. The government faces growing pressure to act swiftly, with the Prime Minister personally intervening to direct the Home Secretary to explore all options.
