At a ceremony held on Monday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Shabana Mahmood, a Birmingham MP of British-Pakistani and Kashmiri descent, was sworn in as the new Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports that Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has made a commitment to keep “defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights”.
“Today I was honored to be sworn in as Lord Chancellor, pledging to protect our independent judiciary from meddling and undue pressure,” the 43-year-old member of the Labour Party said on social media to share the news with the world on X.
“The Rule of Law will have my support. This old job is more important than ever even after 900 years.”
Mahmood, a native of Small Heath, Birmingham, was the first Muslim woman chosen to the position. She said during her address that she was “the first Lord Chancellor to speak Urdu” and took her pledge of loyalty on the Holy Quran.
In the presence of Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, President Robert Reed of the Supreme Court, and Chancellor Julian Flaux of the High Court, she took an oath.
Speaking at the conference, Mahmood said that the Labour Party will keep “defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights” in accordance with the post-World War II European Convention on Human Rights.
She said that more has to be done to give women and girls “who are the victims of violence and abuse” access to the legal system, acknowledging the difficulties it faces.
Carr added, “There will undoubtedly be challenges and choices to be made today and tomorrow,” in response to the Lord Chancellor. That is an inherent aspect of governance.
As you deal with these demands, we will collaborate with you and your ministers. As Lord Chancellor, I very much look forward to working with you to create a solid, long-term cooperation in the pursuit of justice and, of course, within the confines of the constitution.”
