Shabana Mahmood’s asylum overhaul burdens an overstretched system and hands political advantage to her opponents Shabana Mahmood’s asylum overhaul burdens an overstretched system and hands political advantage to her opponents I n government, politicians often mistake gestures for progress. It is disappointing to see Shabana Mahmood succumb to that temptation. The home secretary’s flurry of proposals are designed to signal purpose, but constitute a wishlist of demands that her department can’t