Veteran city councillor admits 'disrespecting female colleague in bullying row'

THE APOLOGY FROM MOHAMMED IDREES TO SHABINA BANO COMES AFTER A THREE YEAR 'CAMPAIGN' 11:35, 21 May 2025 A veteran city councillor has apologised and admitted disrespecting a female

colleague who was at the centre of bullying and isolation claims inside Birmingham Labour. Mohammed Idrees, representing Alum Rock, wrote to Shabina Bano to apologise and admit making

'disrespectful' comments during an alleged campaign against her. A planned formal hearing into his conduct has now been cancelled. Another male councillor, Saqib Khan, had earlier

been reprimanded for comments he had made and was found to have breached code of conduct rules three times at a previous hearing. READ MORE: LABOUR COUNCILLOR 'WAS INTIMIDATED TO BACK

MUSLIM COLLEAGUE IN CRITICAL VOTE' - RULING Now the actions of the council's Standards Committee over the entire saga has come under fire, with senior councillor, Lib Dem Paul

Tilsley, quitting the committee in protest. It's the latest chapter in a saga that began in 2022, when Ms Bano stood for the first time to represent Small Heath ward alongside Mr Khan.

She wrote a detailed complaint to the Labour Party about her experiences during and after her successful election campaign, including claims that she was being bullied by what she called an

'inner cabal' of Asian men in the group. She alleged that she was being intimidated to act 'in line with a Pakistani 'brotherhood/baradari' mentality'. These

included a claim that she was put under pressure to vote for a preferred candidate, Waseem Zaffar, in an internal council leadership election in 2022, and was then 'ostracised' for

not doing so. Mr Zaffar lost the election by a single vote either way to incumbent Ian Ward. Mr Idrees and Mr Khan were allegedly among a group of men lobbying for his victory, which would

have made him the first Kashmiri and first Muslim to lead the council, the biggest in Europe. Ms Bano also said she was lobbied to vote for Mr Idrees to become Lord Mayor and was isolated as

a result, despite ultimately going on to do so. She later defected from the party to the Liberal Democrats, which she now represents, in fury at 'Labour Party's failure to

act'. Subsequently, an independent inquiry, overseen by the council's monitoring officer, was launched to investigate whether the councillors involved had breached the

council's Code of Conduct. Following an investigation, cases were only proceeded with against Cllr Khan and Cllr Idrees as they involved potential breaches while 'on council

business'. READ MORE: FRESH BIRMINGHAM LABOUR CRISIS AS COUNCILLOR'S EVIDENCE 'NOT CREDIBLE' AFTER COLLEAGUE DEFECTS Cllr Khan denied wrongdoing but was found to have

breached the code on two occasions. Cllr Idrees, due to appear at a separate hearing, has now formally apologised and accepted he disrespected Ms Bano, a mum of five. In his letter, he

wrote: "I accept the acts as set out in the complaint, and the Standards charge sheet did take place. I confirm that, although unintended, the acts accepted did cause disrespect to Cllr

Bano. I conditionally and unreservedly apologise to Cllr Bano." He also added: "I would like it to be known that although I only came to know Shabina when she was elected in May

2022, I had known her late father for nearly 30 years. He was a thorough gentleman and one of the nicest people that I have been associated with over many years. I hold no personal grudge

against Shabina and hope she does the same. I wish all the best to her and her family." The claims against him included that he lobbied Cllr Bano to support a planning application and

suggested it would 'be in her best interests to do so if she wanted to remain a councillor'. He also told her she was 'associating with the wrong camp'; and also admitted

that he 'spoke loudly in the Labour Group office' in front of Ms Bano to say that she and fellow councillor Majid Mahmood were 'the only Pakistanis not supporting me'

for Lord Mayor - a comment that Ms Bano says was an attempt to pressure her. The investigation report said these actions 'amount to a pattern of behaviour of putting undue pressure on

Cllr Bano'. Cllr Bano told BirminghamLive she had faced a 'toxic campaign' against her since her election in 2022 'simply for being an independent woman who refused to

bow to the bradari-driven tribalism that continues to infect Birmingham Labour.' She said her failed attempts to get support from her party had left her further isolated. She said the

formal apology from Cllr Idrees confirmed he accepted his wrongdoing and brought some relief. "I was branded a liar while public money was wasted on external lawyers to suppress the

truth. But here we have written proof and full vindication," she said. "No woman should have to endure what I’ve been through. Birmingham Labour must stop the bullying and stop

shielding toxic power structures. The culture must change—starting with honesty, accountability, and respect." READ MORE: SMALL HEATH COUNCILLOR QUITS LABOUR TO JOIN LIB DEMS AMID

'BULLYING AND MISOGYNY' CLAIMS Councillor Bano has subsequently reported that the stress of the situation has triggered significant health problems, and she has expressed her

gratitude to Lib Dem colleagues for their support. Cllr Tilsley, representing Sheldon for the Lib Dems, had served on the Standards Committee but said he has now stepped down from the

committee 'in frustration'. "When I first saw Cllr Bano's complaint, I was very concerned that anyone could be subject to so much intimidation and harassment and that,

despite the fact that she was a Labour Councillor, there was a case to answer. I therefore pressed the Standards Committee to take on the case, despite a feeling that it was an issue for the

Labour Party to adjudicate. "I have now stepped down from the Standards Committee in frustration." An investigation into the Bano allegations was carried out by Claire Ward, a

solicitor and partner at Anthony Collins and a former monitoring officer, in an independent capacity. Ms Ward investigated complaints made against Khan, Idrees and several other councillors.

Her findings resulted in action not proceeding against some members, including Cllr Zaffar, while a complaint against Rashad Mahmood (Lab, Sparkhill) was thrown out after a preliminary

hearing on the basis that comments he was alleged to have made were not said in the course of his role as a councillor. Article continues below Complaints made by Cllr Bano in the run-up to

the elections fell outside the scope of the investigation, the standards committee ruled. She had alleged she was 'being controlled and coerced' in the lead up to her election -

including claims that she was required to 'win favour' with multiple councillors to succeed. We have reached out to Cllr Idrees but he has not taken up our offer to comment

further.