Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Fajila Patel bids to become first niqab-wearing Tory councillor

Fajila Patel bids to become first niqab-wearing Tory councillor

A niqab-wearing mother-of-four will contest Blackburn's Bastwell and Daisyfield ward in May’s local council elections as a Tory candidate, according to reports. 

Fajila Patel, 36, says she wants to 'inspire' more women to get into politics - including those who adopt the full veil, reported MailOnline.


She is backed by her husband, Tiger Patel, who himself won a surprise victory in the Labour stronghold after a series of viral social media videos.

If elected she would be the first Conservative politician to wear a full veil, and possibly the first British politician to do so.

According to reports, nearly 84 per cent of people in the ward are of Muslim faith. The council has a two-thirds Labour majority with 35 members to the Conservatives' 14.

Julian Arnold, the local party chairman, hailed her selection as a “breakthrough” and admitted that, since he took over the association in 2018, he had had to remove members because of Islamophobia.

Tiger Patel Tiger Patel (Photo: Twitter)

In May 2021, an independent report found that anti-Muslim sentiment “remains a problem” among members of the Conservative Party.

Patel told The Telegraph that she had “no concerns” about Islamophobia.

"I want to challenge the “great misconception” about women who wear full veils and drive a change in attitude towards them. The main reason is: I want to break down barriers. I wanted to help inspire other women to come forward and be confident enough to stand as a councillor," she was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

“We all know that local politics in our community continues to be male-dominated. There are far too few women involved in local politics and this needs to change as I know women can make a huge contribution."

Patel added: "It is important for women to have their voices heard. There is also a great misconception about females who wear the full veil in the UK. I wanted to help make a difference in my own community and help to bring about change."

She branded comments made by party leader Boris Johnson, comparing women wearing the full veil to 'letterboxes' and 'bank robbers', as 'indefensible'.

Tiger, real name Altaf, amassed a legion of fans during his campaign for the Audley and Queen's Park ward seat on Blackburn Council through his seemingly unintentionally funny campaign videos.

He is continuing to post similar videos highlighting issues including fly-tipping, potholes and the state of local facilities including parks.

"This is the first woman in the UK standing in the Conservative party, in any party, who wears the niqab," Tiger told MailOnline about his wife's candidacy.

No national-level politicians in Britain are wearing a full veil. Apsana Begum became the first MP to wear a hijab in the House of Commons when she was elected in 2019.

More For You

Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less