Afzal Khan (British politician)

Afzal Khan
CBE MEP
Member of the European Parliament
for North West England
Assumed office
13 June 2014
Personal details
Born (1958-04-05) 5 April 1958
Jhelum, Pakistan
Nationality  United Kingdom
Political party Labour (Co-op)
Profession Lawyer
Religion Muslim
Website afzalkhan.org.uk
CBE insignia

Mohammed Afzal Khan, CBE MEP (Urdu: محمد افضل خان‎; born 5 April 1958, in Jhelum, Pakistan), is a Labour Party politician who serves as a Member of the European Parliament.

Early life

Khan was born in Pakistan and came to the UK aged 11. After leaving school without qualifications, he had a number of jobs – including as a Greater Manchester Police Constable – before returning to education and qualifying as a solicitor:[1] he is now a partner in the solicitors firm of Mellor & Jackson, Oldham.[2]

Political career

Khan was first elected a Councillor in 2000[3] being re-elected in 2004, 2007 and 2011, representing Cheetham Ward and also served as Executive Member for Children's Services.[4][5] Khan was the youngest, first British Pakistani and Muslim, Lord Mayor of Manchester for 2005-2006.[1][6][7][8][9] He has also served as Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain [10] and is currently its North West representative.[11][12]

From 2000 to 2004 Khan was a member of the Department of Trade and Industry's Ethnic Minority Business Forum,[13] advising the then Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt. Following the 2005 London bombings he was a member of a Home Office working group aimed at preventing extremism.[14] Khan was appointed CBE for his race relations work and in 2011 was suggested as a candidate for Oldham East and Saddleworth. In 2012, he stood as the Labour candidate at the Bradford West by-election losing out to Imran Hussain, Deputy Leader of Bradford Council and a barrister (who was beaten at the election by George Galloway).

Afzal Khan was selected in February 2013 on the Labour Party's list for North West England at the European Parliamentary election of 2014[15] and, on 22 May 2014, he was returned as MEP to the European Parliament to represent North West England .

In January 2016, Khan was appointed by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament as Special Representative to Muslim Communities.[16] In this function, Khan will visit Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Denmark for work with local Muslim communities but he will also be inviting groups of young Muslims to the Parliament. [17]

Personal life

Khan is married with a son and two daughters, one of whom, Maryam Khan,[18][19] was also a Councillor on Manchester City Council, for Longsight.[20]

See also

References

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