Will Meakin-Durrant

The UK Government plans amendments to the Immigration and Asylum Bill to enable the Home Secretary to disapply protections under the 1971 Immigration Act that currently prevent deportation of long‑term Commonwealth residents, aiming to facilitate the removal of convicted grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed. Deportation would still require Pakistan’s agreement, and ministers indicated visa restrictions could be considered to pressure cooperation. Opposition figures called for faster emergency legislation while government officials stressed diplomatic challenges. MPs highlighted strong public interest in deportation and longstanding failures affecting Ahmed’s victims.