Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accused Nigel Farage of engaging in 'worse than racist' dog-whistle politics, as she revealed that members of her family have been subjected to racial abuse near their home in recent weeks. Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event in Liverpool, Mahmood criticised the Reform UK leader's policy on reassessing indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for settled migrants.
Mahmood said Farage's proposal sends a 'very, very loud dog whistle to every racist in the country', allowing him plausible deniability while signalling that the status of long-term residents could be revoked. She described this as 'a little bit worse than racist', adding that outright racism would be easier to confront.
The home secretary disclosed that her family had been called 'f***ing Paki' in Birmingham, in areas she regularly visits. She admitted to having sleepless nights and second-guessing whether she can return to some parts of the city. Mahmood described the current atmosphere as 'much deeper and much more pervasive' than isolated incidents.
In her speech, Mahmood also referenced the 13 September 'unite the kingdom' rally in London, which drew up to 150,000 people. She described some participants as 'heirs to the skinheads of old' and warned that the far right is attempting to write Muslims and ethnic minorities out of the definition of Englishness and Britishness.
Mahmood called on Labour to fight a slide into 'ethno-nationalism' and argued that controlling immigration is essential to prevent division. Home Office sources have indicated she is examining new restrictions on settlement claims for over a million people granted visas between 2021 and 2024, a period known as the 'Boriswave'.
