Shabana Mahmood launches into sweary rant at ‘white liberals’ over Reform claims

Politics
21 Apr 2026 • 10:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Shabana Mahmood launches into sweary rant at ‘white liberals’ over Reform claims

  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told "white liberals" to "f**k right off" after being heckled during a live interview in London.
  • Hecklers accused her of imitating Nigel Farage’s Reform UK policies and chanted "refugees welcome" during the event with comedian Matt Forde.
  • Mahmood defended her stance, asserting her identity as a "proud Englishwoman, Brit and Muslim," and dismissed the hecklers as "tin-pot racist."
  • She suggested racist motives behind the heckles, implying they questioned her right as a "brown woman" to hold certain views on immigration.
  • The incident follows criticism of her proposals to double the time for migrants to gain indefinite leave to remain and make refugee status temporary, which has led to a Labour rebellion and condemnation from charities.

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