The date when justice was served

Today, Former Councillor and Lord Mayor Mohammed Afzal was officially stripped of his honorary Alderman benefits:

Two years ago, in April 2023, the Lib Dems presented this petition to the council:

“We, the undersigned, request the Lord Mayor to call an extraordinary general meeting of the council in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 to remove from former Lord Mayor Mohammed Afzal the title and privileges of alderman and any other honorary titles and positions held with the council in the light of the ruling of the election court made on 24th February 2023. Following an election petition brought by Mr Afzal against the 2022 election result in the Aston ward, the judge stated that Mr Afzal ‘had the audacity to issue these proceedings in the knowledge that the allegations quite properly made by the respondents in the course of the election campaign were truthful."

This followed a year of private proceedings brought by the former Lord Mayor and a scandal that became known as #dategate. Video doorbell evidence presented by Cllr Ayoub Khan proved that the former Councillor had indeed given dates to potential voters.

Following this decision, Councillor Mumtaz had this to say:

"Lying to the election court, lying as a councillor, and even lying while holding the honorary title of Alderman — it’s actions like these that make politics appear deeply dysfunctional. 

"I am immensely relieved to see justice prevail. The ordeal I endured was incredibly difficult — my character was unjustly discredited, I came close to losing my home, and I spent countless sleepless nights worried sick. Throughout it all, I am profoundly grateful to the Liberal Democrats who stood by me, supported me, and gave me the strength to fight for justice and clear my name.

"This moment also marks a critical point for the electorate to truly assess Labour’s credibility. We’ve seen backbench Labour councillors taking salaries without declaring them, and another accused of disrespecting a female colleague. These are not isolated incidents — they reflect a pattern that is shameful and deeply troubling.

"I am proud to say that, in contrast, it has been the Liberal Democrats who have consistently championed women’s voices, ensuring they are heard and empowering them to stand firm for their rights.

"As the first Bangladeshi female councillor in Birmingham to have won a seat, entering politics was a completely new experience for me. I never imagined I would face such underhanded tactics — especially not from a 79-year-old man who had served the city for over four decades. One would expect someone with such a legacy to lead with integrity. Instead, this experience has exposed a hard truth: for some, holding public office is more about ego and personal gain than genuinely serving the people.

"Looking ahead, I hope the people of Birmingham recognise that the Birmingham Liberal Democrats are a party grounded in equality, freedom, and respect — principles we uphold with honesty, courage, and action.