Can Shabana Mahmood make history as the UK’s first Muslim prime minister?

The United Kingdom may be on the verge of another political upheaval, and all eyes are now on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood . Her name has emerged as a potential successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer , who is facing unprecedented pressure following the fallout from the Peter Mandelson–Epstein scandal .

Starmer personally appointed Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, despite Mandelson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , whose files reveal allegations of selling British government secrets in exchange for bribes. Critics argue that Starmer is politically responsible for the controversy, and his authority has been further weakened by the resignations of two of his closest aides: Morgan McSweeney , his chief of staff, and Tim Allen , director of communications.

Calls for Starmer to step down have grown louder, including from Anas Sarwar , leader of Scottish Labour, who publicly warned that the ongoing distractions are harming essential public services. Despite this, Starmer addressed the public, asserting that he will never walk away from the country he loves , signaling his intention to remain in office for now. The controversy has created a vacuum within the Labour Party, and attention has turned to potential successors, with Shabana Mahmood increasingly in the spotlight.

Shabana Mahmood, if she were to succeed Starmer, would make history as Britain’s first Muslim prime minister . Her profile has risen due to her deep experience within the party, her role in one of the government’s most high-profile offices, and her reputation as a skilled administrator. She has gained recognition for her firm approach to immigration and law enforcement, measures that have won support from the party’s right wing but also made her a divisive figure . Analysts suggest that her identity and experience could broaden Labour’s appeal to underrepresented communities and potentially reshape the party’s image nationally.

However,Shabana Mahmood faces considerable obstacles. Removing a sitting prime minister in the UK is not straightforward, as there is no formal confidence vote for Labour leaders. Any challenger requires the backing of 80 MPs , or one-fifth of the parliamentary party, to trigger a contest. Other potential successors, including Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting , carry their own political baggage, with Rayner facing a tax investigation and Streeting linked to Mandelson, making a leadership challenge risky without a clear consensus.