UK city council announces first Muslim Lord Mayor

United Kingdom’s Westminster City Council is to vote in its first Muslim Lord Mayor and its youngest ever incumbent. Hamza Taouzzale, who was born and bred in Westminster, can also lay claim to being the only incumbent from a Black, Asian or Multiple Ethnic background to hold the post as the City’s first citizen. The […]

United Kingdom’s Westminster City Council is to vote in its first Muslim Lord Mayor and its youngest ever incumbent.

Hamza Taouzzale, who was born and bred in Westminster, can also lay claim to being the only incumbent from a Black, Asian or Multiple Ethnic background to hold the post as the City’s first citizen.

The 22-year-old was selected following the Labour Party’s victory in last week’s local elections.

Taouzzale, who recently completed his Masters in Global Affairs at King’s College London, has pledged to shake-up the non-political role while maintaining its traditions.

He said: “This is a real honour and a privilege and a total surprise. This is a job that’s above politics, so you have to keep the office out of the day-to-day Council business otherwise it will lose its importance.

“But I do want to get out far more in the community, to be more visible in areas where the Lord Mayor isn’t normally seen.

“A lot of people don’t know what the Lord Mayor is or does and I really want to change that during my year in office.”

The Lord Mayor’s chaplain will for the very first time be an Imam. Kabbir Uddin runs an Islamic School and is chaplain at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

Taouzzale, who is a Londoner of Moroccan heritage, said the appointment is the highlight in a career that started just six years ago – when he became a Youth MP.

After a year in office, he joined the Labour Party and worked hard on being selected as a candidate in Queen’s Park replacing Alderman Barrie Taylor.

He was elected as a Westminster City Councillor in 2018, becoming its youngest ever member. (www.westminster.gov.uk)