Lawyer says UK government can amend 1971 law to deport Rochdale grooming gang ringleader

A lawyer told GB News that the UK government can amend the Immigration Act 1971 to close a legal exemption that has prevented the deportation of a convicted Rochdale grooming gang ringleader. James Tumbridge of Keystone Law said the government holds a large enough majority to change the statute whenever it chooses.

He added that lawmakers could pass a targeted act addressing only this case or amend the existing 1971 legislation.

Background on the case Shabir Ahmed, 73, was released early after serving part of a 19-year sentence handed down in 2012 for the rape and sexual abuse of young girls. He remains in the United Kingdom because the Immigration Act 1971 exempts certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 from removal, even though his British citizenship has been revoked.

Tumbridge said the first step is to resolve the domestic legal barrier before addressing any foreign-government refusal to accept the individual. He noted that an asylum and immigration bill is already moving through Parliament.

Statements on government action Tumbridge described the current situation as embarrassing and said the government has not indicated it has asked its legal department to draft specific amendments. He contrasted statements that the government will "do something" with more concrete instructions to civil servants and parliamentary draftsmen.

He confirmed that changing the law for one particular case is possible, though governments often prefer broader legislation. Tumbridge said the decision and direction must come from elected politicians, after which government lawyers can provide the technical drafting.