But Mahmood’s record suggests she would not be a pushover either. She spent her time before parliament working as a barrister and has long been known for being forthright in private; her supporters have long argued that her appeal is a tendency to form firm, principled views on policy and to fight hard to see them through.
One person who has worked with Mahmood said she acts out of character in the period when she is figuring out what to do about a policy problem. She devotes enormous energy to it, goes to bed late and wakes early — before settling on a view. They said: “When she’s clear about the ‘why,’ she will break any bone she has to.” In this, she has something in common with Miliband.
Mahmood, interviewed by Blair at a reception hosted by the Tony Blair Institute in December, said: “I think the point of politics is to make an argument and try to persuade people of your position. And I think that modern politics, in this frenzied 24/7 world that we live in, sort of drives you towards becoming a commentator, not feeling in control of events.
“Going out and making the argument is, in and of itself, almost a fresh thing to do.”
Describing Mahmood’s approach in late 2025, one Labour official said: “It’s like how Tony Blair used to be — he would go to party conference and say ‘I know you’re all going to disagree with me, but you’re wrong.’”
‘Life is a test’
Mahmood is one of the most prominent Muslims in British public life and her faith informs the way she has seen out her career. She told Blair last year: “I genuinely believe life is a test, and you are accountable to God for how you use the privilege you were gifted at birth by God, and that really motivates me.”