Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has proposed legal changes aimed at expediting the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the Pakistani-born individual convicted as the leader of the Rochdale rape gangs. Philp is calling on Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to support and fast-track the amendment through Parliament as emergency legislation.

The proposed amendment seeks to repeal portions of the Immigration Act 1971 and the UK Borders Act 2007 that currently restrict the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before January 1973. According to Philp, these provisions have hindered efforts to deport Ahmed, who was convicted for his role in a series of child sexual exploitation offenses in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Philp emphasized the urgency of the situation by comparing the legislative process to the recent swift government action that extended pub operating hours until 5 a.m. for England’s World Cup match, suggesting that similarly prompt measures should be taken to facilitate Ahmed’s deportation.

Labour has yet to respond to Philp’s call for emergency legislation to address the deportation issue. The debate highlights ongoing discussions about immigration laws, citizenship status, and the mechanisms available to remove foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes in the UK.