There is a growing shift in the UK’s politics, reflecting modern Britain’s diversity, changing demographics and values.
As the South Asian community grows and prospers, there has been a marked rise in ethnic minority politicians stepping into key roles across the political spectrum, reflecting a deep engagement by these communities in public life.
This is particularly evident in the growing number of South Asians serving in local political leadership, especially in the esteemed position of Mayor.
Recently, local authorities across the UK held their Annual General Meetings (AGMs), reviewing council activities and appointing ceremonial leaders for the coming year. These meetings have seen an increasing number of South Asian councillors take up the mayoralty, a trend signalling both progress and representation.
This year’s appointments reflect that shift. In Tameside, Councillor Shibley Alam made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to be elected Mayor by any authority in the North of England. In Bury, Councillor Fazlul Haque was named the borough’s youngest-ever Mayor at just 28 years old—also the first of Asian heritage to take on the role.
These achievements would have once seemed inconceivable. But they stand today on the shoulders of trailblazers like Councillor Mohammed Ajeeb, whose landmark election as Lord Mayor of Bradford in 1985 marked a historic moment—not only for the city, but for British politics at large.
While Councillor Jagdish Sharma had earlier become the first South Asian Mayor in 1979 in Ealing, and Dr Chuni Lal Katial held the distinction of being the UK’s first South Asian mayor in 1938 when elected to lead the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury, it was Ajeeb who became the UK’s first Pakistani and Muslim Lord Mayor—a milestone that opened the doors for a new wave of representation.
“I came to Britain in 1958, full of hope and ambition,” recalls Mohammed Ajeeb. “But what I encountered was prejudice and discrimination—far removed from the image I had formed through my studies.”
Those early experiences proved pivotal. Disheartened but determined, Ajeeb immersed himself in anti-racism activism, trade unionism, and political organising. “I wanted to fight injustice in all its forms,” he says. “That led me to join the Labour Party in 1974.”
His appointment as Lord Mayor of Bradford eleven years later was met with admiration and pride—not just within the South Asian community, but among many who had long felt marginalised or voiceless.
“It was a great inspiration for all communities,” says Ajeeb. “It sent a message that with hard work, and a commitment to your ideals, you can overcome barriers and achieve.”
His election was a turning point—not only symbolic, but practical. It gave younger generations of British Asians a visible role model in politics and sparked a belief in the possibility of change from within the system. “The Asian community saw that political engagement was essential,” he says. “We couldn’t stand on the sidelines. We had to take part in shaping this country, our country.”
Ajeeb’s story began in humble surroundings. Born in 1938 in a small village in Kashmir, he grew up the son of a stonemason in modest circumstances. “It was a hard life,” he recalls. “But it made us value education, dignity, and justice.”
That deep sense of justice never left him. “Even as a child, I questioned inequality,” he says. “Why are some people rich, others poor? Why do some suffer while others exploit?”
These questions followed him through his studies at the University of Karachi, and later informed his activism and leadership in the UK.
But his landmark appointment was not welcomed by all. Ajeeb remembers the abuse vividly. “There were hundreds of hate letters. My house was stoned. Far-right publications ran articles attacking me. People told me to ‘go back to my own country’.”
His response, however, was characteristically calm and defiant: “This is my country now too.”
In a particularly moving moment from his mayoral year, Ajeeb invited his father from Kashmir to sit beside him during the installation ceremony. “It was a moment of immense pride—for me and for him.”
Looking back now, Ajeeb says that his appointment helped open doors for future generations. “It provided inspiration. It proved that people from our communities could represent and lead. And look where we are today—Asian mayors, councillors, even ministers.”
Asked how he views today’s political climate, he remains both hopeful and realistic. “Things have changed a great deal. Racial discrimination is less overt now, though it still exists in more subtle forms. We’ve had changes in law, in public attitudes, and in education.”
He also recognises the interfaith and intercultural efforts that now flourish across British cities. “People mix more. Young people are better educated. They speak the language and understand the system. That’s progress.”
But he remains clear-eyed: “Racism, in some form, will always be there. We must remain vigilant and continue to challenge it, wherever it exists.”
Mohammed Ajeeb’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and determination. From a remote village in Kashmir to the halls of power in one of Britain’s great cities, his life charts a journey that has inspired generations.
His legacy lies not just in his title, but in the doors he opened—for every councillor, MP, and community leader who has followed in his footsteps.
As modern Britain evolves, his example reminds us that true progress is built not only on representation, but on courage and commitment to justice.
