Key Points
- Former Enfield mayor, Independent councillor Mohammed Islam, apologised for writing letters supporting visa applications for family and friends.
- Islam stepped down from his mayoral role in August after being sanctioned for bringing the office into disrepute.
- Enfield Council’s conduct committee ordered a written apology, mandatory code of conduct training, and banning Islam from wearing his mayoral badge.
- Islam accepted the committee’s findings but raised concerns about the process, planning to appeal to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
- Mayors are prohibited from using their position to lobby immigration authorities for private individuals due to impartiality concerns.
- Islam is currently an independent councillor after suspension from the Labour Party.
- Enfield Council confirmed receipt of Islam’s apology and his acceptance of the committee’s findings.
What led to Mohammed Islam’s apology to Enfield Council?
As reported by the BBC, Independent councillor and former mayor of Enfield, Mohammed Islam, issued a formal apology to the council following an investigation into his conduct relating to letters he wrote in support of visa applications for his family and friends. Islam stepped down from his mayoral position in August 2025 after the council’s conduct committee found that his actions had brought the office into disrepute.
Islam admitted that the letters he wrote did not meet the standards expected of an elected member and acknowledged that his conduct may have affected public confidence in the council’s impartiality. In his letter to the council, Islam wrote:
“I would like to offer my sincere apology to the council for the conduct in relation to the invitation letters to attend council programs. I recognise that the actions did not meet the standards expected of an elected member and may have affected confidence in the council.”
This apology was part of the disciplinary measures imposed by the council’s conduct committee after reviewing the incident.
What sanctions were imposed on Mohammed Islam by Enfield Council?
The Enfield Council’s conduct committee imposed several sanctions on Mohammed Islam, as detailed by a spokesperson for the council. These sanctions included a mandatory written apology, a requirement to undertake code of conduct training, and a prohibition on wearing his previous mayoral badge.
The council’s statement, quoted by the Evening Standard, confirmed:
“Cllr Islam wrote to the monitoring officer on Friday 21 November with an apology and that he accepted the findings of the council’s conduct committee.”
These penalties reflect how seriously the council treated the breach of conduct standards concerning the misuse of his mayoral role.
Why is it inappropriate for mayors to lobby immigration authorities?
As outlined in official government guidance on openness and transparency, mayors or councillors must not use their positions to lobby immigration authorities on behalf of private individuals. According to the UK Government’s code of practice:
“Lobbying immigration authorities for private individuals would undermine public trust in their ability to act impartially.”
This principle aims to preserve the integrity of public office by preventing any suggestion of favouritism or undue influence in sensitive matters such as visa and immigration decisions.
Mohammed Islam’s letters supporting visa applications thus breached these established ethical standards for elected officials.
What has Mohammed Islam said about the conduct committee’s process?
Despite accepting the findings and the sanctions imposed, Mohammed Islam expressed concerns about how the council’s conduct committee handled his case. As reported by BBC London, a legal adviser for Islam stated:
“We are now preparing to refer this entire case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to ensure an independent, fair, and transparent review of the council’s handling of this matter.”
Islam himself said he planned to raise separate concerns about aspects of the committee’s process through appropriate channels while reaffirming his commitment to improve his future conduct.
What is Mohammed Islam’s current political status?
Mohammed Islam currently serves as an independent councillor in Enfield after being suspended from the Labour Party earlier in 2025. His suspension followed the controversy related to the visa support letters and the resulting conduct investigation.
His move from the Labour Party to independent status has been noted by local media such as the Enfield Independent. While he no longer holds the mayoral office, Islam remains an elected member of the council, subject to the code of conduct and disciplinary oversight.
How is the council responding to the situation?
Enfield Council has confirmed receipt of Mohammed Islam’s apology and his compliance with the committee’s decisions. The council’s spokesperson reiterated their position in statements to various outlets:
“We can confirm that Cllr Islam wrote to the monitoring officer on Friday 21 November with an apology and that he accepted the findings of the council’s conduct committee.”
The council maintains that it is committed to upholding high standards of conduct among its members and ensuring accountability for breaches.
What is the next step in the complaint process?
Following the sanctions and apology, the case is set to proceed to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as Islam’s legal representation plans to appeal the council’s handling of the matter. This independent body reviews complaints about local authorities to ensure fairness and transparency.
Should the Ombudsman decide to investigate, their findings could affect future council conduct procedures and provide an additional measure of oversight in such cases.
