Peterborough Conservatives are delighted to welcome North Ward Councillor Asim Mahmood to the Conservative Group.
Cllr Mahmood has announced his resignation from the Labour Party after ten years of membership, saying the decision came after "careful and prolonged reflection" and was driven by his desire to continue putting residents first.
Explaining his decision on Facebook, Cllr Mahmood said:
"This has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life, and not one I have arrived at quickly or easily. After careful and prolonged reflection, I am today announcing that I am resigning from the Labour Party.
I joined the Labour Party ten years ago because I believed, and continue to believe in public service, in community, and in fighting for people who need a voice. These are values I still hold deeply, and they continue to shape everything I do as a public servant. This decision is not a rejection of those values, it is a reaffirmation of them. My decision is about how I believe I can best continue serving the people who elected me.
However, I have reached a point where I no longer believe those values, merit, transparency, integrity and putting residents first, are consistently reflected within the local Labour Group.
I have long believed that public office should be earned through hard work, experience and a genuine commitment to the community. When nepotism is allowed to replace merit as the basis on which positions and responsibilities are allocated, it is ultimately the residents who lose out. That is something I cannot, in good conscience, be part of.
In recent months, I have come to feel that the local Labour Group has created an environment in which colleagues cannot openly express their views or challenge decisions without fearing that doing so will be held against them. Open discussion, constructive challenge and accountability are essential to good governance. Regrettably, I no longer believe that culture exists within the local Labour Group. Despite the experience and time I have given to this party, and three years of service as a councillor within the local Labour Group, I no longer feel welcome. I have reached a point where I can no longer effectively represent my residents from within that environment and, above all else, that is what has made my position untenable. It is not an environment that I can, in good conscience, continue to be part of.
For those reasons, I have concluded that I can no longer remain within the Labour Party. I have therefore taken the decision to join the Conservative Party alongside my fellow North Ward Councillor, Javed Akhtar, having received the support of Mayor Paul Bristow of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
I believe this move will allow me to continue serving the people of North Ward in an environment where merit, transparency, accountability and putting residents first are valued.
From this position, I intend to effectively scrutinise the administration’s regeneration agenda and ensure that North Ward’s priorities are properly addressed, including the ongoing issue of commercial vehicles parking in residential areas, which prevents residents from parking outside their own homes. These are the everyday issues that matter deeply to the people of North Ward, and I am determined to help resolve them.
To the residents of North Ward, I want to speak to you directly. I know that some of you may be surprised by this decision, and I understand that. You elected me as a Labour councillor, and I respect that deeply. However, my commitment to you has never been about a party label; it has always been about you, your families and our community. My door remains open to every resident of North Ward, regardless of how you voted or how you feel about this decision.
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the Conservative Group and to Mayor Paul Bristow for their support over the last few months. The last few months have been a period of significant personal difficulty for me, including challenges with my mental health, and their kindness and understanding have meant more than I can express.
I can today confirm that I will be seeking re-election in 2027 as a Conservative candidate, and I look forward to continuing to serve this wonderful community alongside Councillor Javed Akhtar.
The people of North Ward have always come first for me, and they always will. Whatever your view of today’s decision, I hope I will continue to earn your trust through my actions and my service to our community. "
Welcoming Cllr Mahmood to the Group, the Peterborough Conservative Group said:
"We are delighted to welcome Asim to the Conservative team. We recognise that this was not an easy decision for him, and we respect the careful consideration that went into it.
"Asim has made clear that his priority is serving the residents of North Ward, and we look forward to working with him to deliver for local people. His experience, dedication to public service and commitment to putting residents first will be a valuable addition to our Group."
Everyone at Peterborough Conservatives looks forward to working with Cllr Mahmood as we continue to champion the interests of residents across the city.