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UK Home Secretary says nearly all women arriving on small boats have been raped

Shabana Mahmood criticises far-right activists and discusses pro-Palestinian cause in podcast interview

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has claimed that nearly all women who attempt to reach the UK via small boats from northern France have been raped during their journey. Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast, she said the criminal gangs that control the crossings are responsible for systemic abuse, and that the current border system is not in Britain's control.

In an interview with former Conservative minister Rory Stewart and former Blair adviser Alastair Campbell, Mahmood said the people-trafficking gangs that decide who reaches the UK subject women and some men to sexual violence and abuse. "You can almost guarantee that every woman that's in the north of France has probably been raped along the journey. Some of the men too, they've certainly been abused and threatened," she said.

Mahmood argued that the current model, in which traffickers sift who gets to attempt the crossing, is unacceptable for a country that offers sanctuary. "That is not the model that should decide whether somebody gets to come to the UK, make this their place of sanctuary and ultimately become one of us," she added.

The Home Secretary also addressed far-right activists, including those she described as balaclava-wearing troublemakers who have shut down ports. She said they would "kill" her or "kick me out of my own country" if they had power, and dismissed their claims that she is not a true Brit because she is a Muslim.

Asked about the arrest of 82 activists at the Labour party conference who displayed articles in support of Palestine Action, Mahmood said she considered herself "part of the pro-Palestinian cause" and felt "very uncomfortable" about the arrests. Merseyside police made the arrests on Monday, the first day of the conference.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The claim highlights the extreme dangers faced by migrants on the Channel route, which the UK government has struggled to control.
  • The remarks come as the government pushes for tougher border enforcement, while Mahmood also signals sympathy with pro-Palestinian activism, potentially affecting her standing with different political factions.
  • The admission that gangs, not the state, "sift" arrivals raises questions about the effectiveness of current policy.

Background

Shabana Mahmood became home secretary in July 2024. Small boat crossings across the English Channel have been a persistent political issue, with successive governments attempting to deter arrivals through legislation and enforcement. The UK has faced criticism over the treatment of asylum seekers, while traffickers continue to exploit the route.

Key Perspectives

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood: She argues the current system is broken and that criminal gangs perpetrate widespread abuse. She criticises far-right activism as a threat to her and the country. Trafficking victims: Mahmood says almost all women and some men are raped or abused before reaching France. No independent verification of the claim is provided in the interview. Far-right activists: Mahmood describes them as troublemakers who would kill her if they could. They have not issued a public response.

What to Watch

  • Whether the government publishes data on sexual violence along migrant routes.
  • Reaction from humanitarian and refugee advocacy groups to Mahmood's characterisation of conditions.
  • Any policy response or further action on border control following the interview.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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