Former taxi driver becomes Lord Mayor of Manchester

A former taxi driver has described his appointment as the new Lord Mayor of Manchester as a "deeply emotional" moment.

Councillor Shaukat Ali was sworn in as the 128th Lord Mayor of Manchester during a ceremony on Wednesday.

Ali grew up in the village of Batli in Kashmir before moving to Manchester at the age of 16.

He said it was "a deeply emotional day for me, my mother passed away yesterday after a long-term illness, and I feel profound sadness that she is not here to share this very special moment with me".

He was born in Pakistan in 1965, and worked in textile manufacturing for several years before going on to run a furniture business and a small food outlet.

He worked for several years as a licensed taxi driver in Manchester while studying English in the evenings and later gaining an IT diploma from City College Manchester.

With over a decade of experience since his election in 2012, Ali has served on key committees including planning and highways, children's scrutiny, and neighbourhood services, as well as regional boards.

He said he planned to focus his mayoral year on supporting children in social care and strengthening community cohesion across the city.

In his maiden speech as Lord Mayor, he said: "Manchester is a city built on diversity, culture, and fairness. It’s a city where people from every background, culture, faith, and belief live side by side, contributing to the rich fabric that makes Manchester truly special."

The father-of-four added: “Manchester has given me everything I have today."

The day also marked the departure of outgoing Lord Mayor Carmine Grimshaw, a former councillor in Miles Platting and Newton Heath.

Grimshaw said: "If there's one thing that this year has shown me beyond any doubt, it is that the real heartbeat of Manchester is within its communities."

"It has truly been an honour to service the remarkable city, and an even greater honour for me to learn from the people who give it life, thank you the people of Manchester," he added.

Councillor Pat Karney praised the outgoing Lord Mayor's "magnificent" record in the role, pointing out that 500 engagements had been made in the job, and visiting every ward in the city.

Praise for Grimshaw was echoed around the council chamber.

Lib Dem councillor John Leech said: "I think it's fair to say that you will be genuinely missed across the whole council chamber."

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