Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce changes to immigration law that would allow the Government to deport Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang. The move comes after Ahmed was released from prison last week having served 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.
The Home Secretary is set to amend the 1971 Immigration Act, which currently prevents Ahmed from being removed from Britain. Although Ahmed has been stripped of his British citizenship, the Act exempts individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived here for at least five years. Officials believe the loophole can be closed without affecting the rights of other Commonwealth citizens, including the Windrush generation.
Mahmood's announcement will coincide with the second reading of the immigration and asylum bill on Monday. A government source said there was confidence in a fix for the domestic side, but added that negotiations with Pakistan would determine whether Ahmed remains in the UK.
The issue was raised in the Commons earlier this week, where Conservative MP Robbie Moore pressed the Home Office for urgent action. In response, Home Office minister Alex Norris said all options were on the table, including emergency legislation, though he cautioned that it was "never quite as easy" as suggested.
Pakistan has so far refused to accept Ahmed and two other freed ringleaders, claiming they renounced their Pakistani citizenship. The UK disputes this, pointing to evidence that Ahmed did not complete the proper process to forfeit his birthright. Downing Street has confirmed the matter has been raised with officials in Islamabad.
