Immigration & refugees

Rochdale Gang Ringleader to Be Released

Is Shabir Ahmed protected by a legal reality or shielded by a national disgrace?

Published JUL 1

story

Above: British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives in Downing Street in London on June 23. Image credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

Shabir Ahmed cannot be deported because of protections under the Immigration Act 1971 that shield long-settled Commonwealth arrivals from removal — this is a legal reality. Stripping his British citizenship was the right move, but the law is clear that he cannot be removed to Pakistan.

Daily Mirror Guardian

Right narrative

A man convicted of 30 counts of child rape walks free this week because outdated immigration loopholes protect foreign rapists over British children — that's a national disgrace. The Immigration Act 1971 has no business shielding someone like Shabir Ahmed, and must be scrapped.

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