Anger as Birmingham Reform make 'only English' demand at council meetings after Islamic prayer

Birmingham's new Reform councillors have sparked anger by calling for an 'English only' rule at Birmingham City Council after an Islamic prayer from the Qur'an was said during the annual mayor-making ceremony.

Members of the party's group of 23 councillors wrote to newly-appointed Lord Mayor Zaker Choudhry, a Muslim, about the decision to invite an imam to share a brief 30 second verse in Arabic as part of the installation ceremony.

The reading's meaning was repeated in English to those present.

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In the letter, seen by BirminghamLive, Reform said that Birmingham was a 'diverse city made up of many different faiths and backgrounds' but 'official council meetings should remain inclusive and accessible to all residents regardless of religion or culture' - and all readings and proceedings should be in English.

They said it was 'inappropriate' for any readings to be in a language 'many residents do not understand'. The move was condemned as 'nonsense' and 'deliberately divisive'.

The Reform group, led by Kingstanding councillor Jex Parkin, said they 'respect the personal faith and beliefs of the Lord Mayor and all communities across Birmingham.'

Parkin said: "It’s clear only the English language should be used in public meetings in this country. We will always advocate for this, on behalf of the residents that elected us to promote and protect the language, culture and values of the United Kingdom.

"We look forward to supporting the Lord Mayor in his new role, and trust this feedback will be accepted with the good faith in which it is offered. Clearly, many residents share our view."

But the comments - the first formal contribution from Reform since it emerged as the biggest single group in the council chamber following the May 7 local election - triggered an immediate backlash.

Coun Majid Mahmood, Labour, Hodge Hill and Bromford, said it was 'nonsense' and an attempt to politicise a positive moment.

He said the short Islamic reading cited was translated into English and delivered in a spirit of unity and reflection. "Birmingham’s diversity is our strength, not something to be feared or politicised."

In a letter of support to the Lord Mayor, he added: "Our diversity is not something to be tolerated, it is one of Birmingham's greatest strengths.

"To suggest only English should be heard in civic spaces risks sending a deeply unfortunate message to many communities who have contributed enormously to the social, cultural and economic fabric of our city for generations.

"Our council has long welcomed prayers and reflections from different traditions and denominations. Extending that same courtesy to minority faith is not divisive or exclusionary, it is representative of the modern Birmingham we proudly serve."

Imam Mohammed Abdali was invited to say a brief prayer and quoted from Chapter 5, Verse 2 of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. He then explained in English how it was a verse that reminded everyone of how we should 'live together in harmony and cooperation, in a spirit of goodness and righteousness'.

The verse also reminds people 'not to collaborate in wrong or transgression'.

It encourages love for each other 'regardless of what background we are from, regardless of what religion we belong to, regardless of what race we belong to, we should stand together and help each other...and that's the message of Islam,' he said.

The imam said it was about 'standing up against all forms of extremism and terrorism.' The verse was cited in the hope members would 'work together for the good of the city of Birmingham and the wider community.'

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posting on X in his extremist persona of Tommy Robinson, posted a short clip of the prayer reading and not the English explainer that followed and told his followers: 'These were the scenes in England's second largest city, Birmingham, this week at the new Lord Mayor's inauguration.' He highlighted the heritage and faith of the new Lord Mayor in derisory terms.

Coun Mahmood also pointed out to his followers that prayers or readings were traditionally made ahead of mayor making, of civic leaders of all faiths and none.

A council spokesperson said of the row: "It is standard for every Lord Mayor to ask a local religious leader of their choice to do something at the start of the Mayoral year, if they wish. In this case, a blessing was performed for the Lord Mayor in his particular faith. Any Lord Mayor of any faith would have an equal opportunity to do the same.”

Talks regarding a potential coalition to run the council are under way. Both Reform UK and the outgoing Labour administration have publicly stated they do not intend to go into coalition with any other groups.

Green Party, Liberal Democrats and at least one of the groups of new Independents are engaged in 'positive' talks about a way forward.