Ayoub Khan is a British Independent politician and a practicing Barrister who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Perry Barr since 2024.[1][2]
Ayoub Khan | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Khalid Mahmood |
| Majority | 507 (1.4%) |
| Member of Birmingham City Council for Aston | |
| Assumed office May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Afzal |
| In office July 2005 – May 2012 | |
| In office May 2003 – June 2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ratta Azad Kashmir, Pakistan |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal Democrats (until 2024) |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham University of Central England BPP Law College Bar Vocational Course |
Early life and education
editAyoub Khan moved to England from Ratta, Azad Kashmir at six months old. He attended Prince Albert Primary School, Duddeston Manor Secondary School and Josiah Mason College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham and a Masters in Engineering (MEng) in Integrated Management Systems from the University of Birmingham . He studied Law at the University of Central England and completed his Bar Vocational Training Course at the BPP Law College London and qualified as a Barrister in 2007 after being called to the bar in 2005. He is a member of Lincoln’s Inn [3]
Political career
editKhan was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the Aston ward in Birmingham in 2003.[4] He lost the seat in 2004, but successfully challenged the result through an Election Petition at the High Court which determined that the Labour Party candidates were involved in postal voter scandal.[5] He went on and won the by-election in 2005. He represented the Aston Ward again from 2005 to 2012, and 2022 to 2024.[6][7] During this time, he ran for other positions for the party. He contested the Birmingham Ladywood constituency at the 2010 general election, and came second,[8] and contested the West Midlands constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election, at which he was also not elected.[9]
In 2008, Khan alleged the use of underhanded tactics by Labour opponent Muhammad Afzal. In 2009, Afzal was cleared, and Khan was declared by the election commissioner Timothy Straker QC to have "made up" allegations against him, prompting calls for him to be barred from contesting the 2010 general election for the Liberal Democrats.[10][11][12] Khan appealed the decision to the high court, but lost on appeal, with the judges describing his claims as "perverse" and "unsubstantiated".[11][12][5] Khan said that the judgement was "beyond my belief" and that "I believe I have been tarnished when all I have done is told the truth."[11] An internal Liberal Democrat allegation cleared Khan of any wrongdoing, and he was maintained as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the 2010 general election.[12][5]
During the 2023 Gaza war, Khan was embroiled in controversy after creating TikTok videos questioning the extent of the 7 October attacks.[13][14][15][16] The Liberal Democrats conducted an investigation in relation to these posts and dismissed the complaints. Khan apologised for any offence caused by the tweets, and was offered antisemitism training by the Liberal Democrats.[17][18] Khan stated "at no stage have I considered my material on TikTok offensive. It illustrates doesn’t it how the media can get it wrong".[14][18][19]
Member of Parliament
editIn May 2024, he resigned from the Liberal Democrats to fight the general election as an independent,[20] saying he had been told to sign up to an agreement by the Party but could not do so without compromising his integrity.[21] He was elected as an independent MP for the Birmingham Perry Barr constituency, with 35.5% of the vote, overturning the Labour incumbent Khalid Mahmood’s 15,000 vote majority to win by 507 votes.[22][23]
Personal life
editAs of 2024, Khan continues to live in his childhood neighbourhood of Aston with his wife and their six children. He explains that he remains in Aston to serve as a role model for the younger generation. Khan regularly visits local schools to share his success story and encourages young people to prioritise their education.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Birmingham Perry Barr - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ Siddique, Haroon (7 July 2024). "Who are the pro-Gaza independents who unseated Labour MPs?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Arnot, Chris (8 August 2007). "Can-do councillor". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Aston Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c "Birmingham councillor secretly records political opponent in bid to save career". Business Live. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Aston Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Councillor Ayoub Khan". birmingham.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Birmingham Ladywood". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Ayoub Khan for Birmingham Perry Barr in the UK Parliamentary general election". whocanivotefor.co.uk.
- ^ "Birmingham councillor Ayoub Khan facing professional misconduct tribunal". Business Live. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c Siddique, Haroon (2009-07-27). "Nick Clegg urged to bar candidate from standing at next election". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c Cartledge, James (2010-03-19). "Birmingham City Coouncil member Ayoub Khan to face Bar Standards Board probe". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Mayor, Rob (27 October 2023). "Birmingham Lib Dem Councillor investigated for Hamas attack comments". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b Haynes, Jane (6 November 2023). "Tension mounts in Birmingham over Israel-Hamas conflict". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Harpin, Lee (26 October 2023). "Lib Dem councillor questions accounts of Hamas terrorist atrocities". Jewish News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Alan (8 October 2023). "'Progressives' and the Hamas Pogrom: An A-Z Guide". Fathom. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Birmingham Lib Dem councillor offered anti-semitism training". BBC News. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b Harpin, Lee (30 October 2023). "Lib Dem councillor denies he agreed to do antisemitism training over Hamas remarks". Jewish News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Harpin, Lee. "Lib Dem councillor sparks fury after refusing to address antisemitism concerns". Jewish News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Haynes, Jane (2024-05-28). "Lib Dem quits party to fight Perry Barr seat as Independent over Gaza". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ Rose, David (5 July 2024). "Birmingham Perry Bar election winner questioned Hamas war crimes on October 7". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Pro-gaza candidates capture seats from". thenationalnews.com. 2024-07-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[permanent dead link] - ^ Morton, Becky (5 July 2024). "Pro-Gaza candidates squeeze Labour vote in some constituencies". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.