FROM TAXI DRIVER TO FIRST CITIZEN: EX-CABBIE IS SWORN IN AS MANCHESTER'S 128TH LORD MAYOR

Manchester’s new Lord Mayor has described his appointment as a "deeply emotional" moment, paying tribute to his late mother after being officially sworn into office.

Councillor Shaukat Ali took over the civic role during a Mayor Making ceremony on Wednesday 20 May.

The event was tinged with personal sadness for the father-of-four, whose mother passed away the previous day following a long illness. "I feel profound sadness that she is not here to share this very special moment with me," Ali said.

Ali’s journey to the city's highest civic office is a story of resilience and hard work. Born in Pakistan in 1965, he grew up in the Kashmiri village of Batli before moving to Manchester at age 16 speaking very little English.

Before entering politics, he worked in textile manufacturing, ran a furniture business and a food outlet, and spent several years as a licensed Manchester taxi driver. During this time, he studied English in the evenings and earned an IT diploma from City College Manchester.

Driven by strong family values, Ali was elected as a councillor in 2012. Over the last 14 years in local government, he has served on key committees, including planning, children's scrutiny, and neighbourhood services.

Supported by his wife and new Lady Mayoress, Kausar Parveen, Ali plans to focus his mayoral year on supporting children in social care and boosting community cohesion.

In his maiden speech, Ali praised his adopted home, stating: "Manchester has given me everything I have today." He described the city as one "built on diversity, culture, and fairness," where people of all backgrounds live side by side.

Ali added that his early life in Pakistan and his years in Manchester have shaped his values, noting: "I am proud to champion our city and celebrate the diversity, resilience and community spirit that make Manchester so special."

The ceremony also marked the departure of the outgoing Lord Mayor, Carmine Grimshaw, who received warm praise from across the council chamber. Councillor Pat Karney hailed Grimshaw's "magnificent" record of 500 official engagements, which included visiting every ward in the city. Liberal Democrat councillor John Leech added that Grimshaw would be "genuinely missed."

Reflecting on his time in office, Grimshaw thanked the public and stated that his tenure proved "the real heartbeat of Manchester is within its communities."

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