Harris Khaliq, newly elected councillor for Birmingham’s Ward End, believes the recent surge of independent candidates signals a fresh start for many of the city’s “forgotten” communities. Khaliq, who ran a grassroots campaign inspired by the leadership and stance of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was even dubbed the ‘Mamdani of Ward End’ by a resident, likening him to New York’s progressive Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The local elections revealed a sharp decline in Labour’s dominance across Birmingham, with voters showing growing frustration toward the long-entrenched two-party system. Reform UK and the Green Party capitalized on this shift, but the standout development was the election of 13 independent councillors, including Khaliq, who promises a new model of representation rooted in community connection.
Khaliq criticized mainstream parties for neglecting working-class areas like Ward End. “They’ve ignored working-class people and treated local communities like ours with contempt,” he wrote on his campaign website. “People are fed up with councillors who only appear every few years during election season and do nothing in between.”
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His campaign focused on tangible local issues such as reducing litter and fly-tipping, protecting Ward End Library, and advocating for local hiring in projects like HS2. His message resonated deeply with voters, earning him a landslide victory with 2,078 votes — quadruple the tally of Labour’s nearest rival.
After his victory, Khaliq expressed gratitude and emphasized his deep roots in Ward End: “I’ve lived here for 35 years. The problems people face are my problems. When I fix a pothole, it’s for my own community. When I fight to keep the library open, it’s for our children.”
He added, “The main thing was giving residents a voice. They have been marginalized, misrepresented, and ignored for too long. Now it’s my job to carry their hopes and concerns into the council chamber.”
Khaliq believes the rise of independent voices across Birmingham reflects a shift in voter priorities. “People want representatives who live among them, understand their issues firsthand, and serve as a genuine bridge to council services. This ‘uprise’ of independents is a positive sign for the future,” he said.
As Birmingham’s local council prepares for coalition talks, the role of independents like Khaliq could prove pivotal in shaping governance. The current makeup of the council stands as follows:
- Reform UK: 23 seats
- Green Party: 19 seats
- Labour: 17 seats
- Conservative: 16 seats
- Independents: 13 seats
- Liberal Democrats: 12 seats
- Workers Party: 1 seat
With no single party in majority, the influence of independents may be key to forming a stable and representative administration that truly addresses the needs of communities like Ward End.