Ayoub Khan
Ayoub Khan | |
---|---|
File:Ayoub Khan (UK MP) cropped.png | |
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 | |
Political party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | Liberal Democrats (until 2024) |
Alma mater | Birmingham City University University of Birmingham |
Ayoub Khan is a British independent politician and barrister who was elected as Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr at the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[1][2]
Political career
Khan was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the Aston ward in Birmingham in 2003. He lost the seat in 2004, but represented it again from 2005 to 2012, and 2022 to 2024.[3] During this time, he ran for other positions for the party, including the UK and European parliaments.[4]
During the 2023 Gaza war, Khan was embroiled in controversy over whether he had promoted a conspiracy theory on TikTok, and posted his own videos questioning the extent of the 7 October attacks.[5][6][7][8] He deleted the post, and the Liberal Democrat party said Khan had recognised the comments were offensive and agreed to undertake antisemitism training.[9] Khan stated "[a]t no stage have I considered my material on TikTok offensive, nor have I agreed with anyone that I would undergo a training course in antisemitism. There is simply no need. It illustrates doesn’t it how the media can get it wrong".[6][10][11]
Member of Parliament
In May 2024, he quit the Liberal Democrats to fight the general election as an independent,[12] saying he had been told to “hush up” his concerns over the Gaza war but could not do so without compromising his integrity.[13][better source needed] He was endorsed by the campaign group The Muslim Vote.[13][better source needed] 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.[14][15]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Councillor Ayoub Khan". birmingham.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Ayoub Khan for Birmingham Perry Barr in the UK Parliamentary general election".
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mayor, Rob (28 October 2023). "Birmingham Lib Dem councillor offered anti-semitism training". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Harpin, Lee. "Lib Dem councillor sparks fury after refusing to address antisemitism concerns". Jewish News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Harpin, Lee (30 October 2023). "Lib Dem councillor denies he agreed to do antisemitism training over Hamas remarks". 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.
- ^ a b Rose, David (5 July 2024). "Birmingham Perry Bar election winner questioned Hamas war crimes on October 7". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2024/07/05/pro-gaza-candidates-capture-seats-from
- ^ Morton, Becky (5 July 2024). "Pro-Gaza candidates squeeze Labour vote in some constituencies". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.