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Keir Starmer’s government is on the brink of collapse after the revelations of files with Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Starmer’s ‘Chief of Staff’ and other officials were forced to resign one by one after the Epstein affair came to light. In this situation, Muslim woman Shabana Mahmood came up for the first time in the race of British Prime Minister. Indian-origin Labor Party leader Shabana has Kashmir connections.

It is known that Shabana Mahmood, a lawyer by profession, is one of the top leaders of the Labor Party. Also close to Keir Starmer, Shabana is highly skilled as a speaker. Shabana, associated with the right-wing faction of the Labor Party, was born in Buckingham in 1980. Though born in Britain, Shabana’s family originally resided in Mirpur, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. His family moved to Britain in the late 60s. He became a barrister in 2003 after passing law from Lincoln College, Oxford University in 2002.

Though born in Britain, Shabana’s family originally resided in Mirpur, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. His family moved to Britain in the late 60s.

His political career began in 2010. That year, he was elected as an MP from the Ladywell constituency in Buckingham. He got about 55.7 percent of the votes. After becoming an MP, he came to the fore in 2013 by supporting same-sex marriage. In 2019, he told the British Parliament that schools should consider the religious identity and age of students when teaching RSE curricula on LGBTQ issues. Also in these cases the school should take the consent of the parents of the students. His comments were heavily criticized by the Labor Party.

But his political career did not stop. In 2023, The Statesman listed Shabana as one of Britain’s 20 most influential leftists. He became a member of Priby Council in 2024. Shabana became Britain’s first Muslim and third female Lord Chancellor in the same year. Starmer later appointed him Foreign Secretary and Lord Chancellor. On 5 September 2025, Shabana was promoted to the post of State Secretary, Home Department. Political circles believe Shabana’s chances of becoming prime minister are getting stronger at a time when Starmer’s government is on the brink of collapse after Damadol over Epstein.