Shabana Mahmood has already acquitted herself as justice secretary, and proved herself to be the most effective reforming home secretary in years. It is no surprise that the word in the Westminster bubble is that she is “nailed on” for another promotion, this time to the role of chancellor.
Indeed, one of the few substantive arguments against Ms Mahmood succeeding the deeply disappointing Rachel Reeves is that she has at least two significant tasks ahead of her – completing her changes to the asylum and naturalisation system, and reorganising the police forces. Events, however, seem to be overtaking her.
