Ex-Mayor condemned over 'dategate' scandal

COUNCILLORS ACCUSED OF LIES AFTER ELECTION WIN TELL OF PERSONAL HELL

- JANE HAYNES Politics & People Editor

THE underhand tactics used by a Labour Party veteran to try to secure votes in the last Birmingham City Council local election - exposed in the 'dategate' scandal - has been condemned.

Former Lord Mayor Muhammed Afzal was officially stripped of the status and privilege of being an honorary 'alderman' for the city at a meeting of the full council.

The action was praised by the two councillors who had been the victims of his attempted deceit - Councillors Mumtaz Hussain and Ayoub Khan.

Afzal, 79, who is chair of Birmingham Central Mosque, previously represented Aston. He was embroiled in 'gifting' packs of dates to voters and then lying to an election court about it in a bid to avenge defeat at local council elections in May 2022.

He had sought to get the result overturned, claiming victors Mr Khan and Mrs Hussain had made up the date gifting claim out of malice.

His own deceit was only uncovered when a doorbell video emerged showing him on the election trail distributing the gifts.