Lord mayor elected as event interrupted by bin strike protesters

THE PRESTIGIOUS BIRMINGHAM LORD MAYOR CEREMONY TOOK A DRAMATIC TURN WHEN PROTESTERS BEGAN TO SHOUT FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERY 19:00, 20 May 2025 A prestigious ceremony to mark the election of

Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor took a dramatic turn when protesters interrupted the event from the public gallery. Mayor Zafar Iqbal, who serves as a councillor for the Tyseley and Hay Mills

ward, took up the politically-neutral role at the lively meeting on Tuesday afternoon, May 20. The roles of the Lord Mayor include representing the Birmingham community at formal ceremonies

and on both joyous and tragic occasions; supporting charities; welcoming dignitaries and chairing council meetings. READ MORE: BIRMINGHAM ‘SO MUCH BIGGER THAN CITY COUNCIL’ - DEPARTING LORD

MAYOR But the grand ceremony was overshadowed at moments when those supporting striking bin workers began to shout from the public gallery. The Birmingham bins strike dispute was triggered

by the council’s plans to scrap a Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, which Unite said would force “dedicated workers onto pay levels barely above the minimum wage”. But the

council has insisted in the past that a “fair and reasonable offer” has been made, with council leader John Cotton adding it “cannot and will not entertain anything that would re-open an

equal pay liability”. The tense situation continues to rumble on, with one woman angrily shouting during today’s meeting: “Could you take an £8,000 pay cut?” Another protester also yelled

about workers ‘losing their livelihoods, losing their homes’ before whistles blared in the council chamber room. “Sit down or be removed,” departing Lord Mayor Ken Wood shouted in response,

before he requested that the gallery be cleared. As Coun Zafar Iqbal was being named Lord Mayor, a shout of “shame on you John Cotton” could then be heard, prompting councillors to clap over

the interruption. On Tuesday afternoon, Unite the union shared a picture of strikers and supporters outside the council house with a banner calling on Coun Cotton to 'end the bin

strike'. Addressing those attending the prestigious event later on, Mayor Iqbal appeared unfazed and spoke positively about Birmingham. “While I was not born here, it has been home to

me and my family for over 50 years,” he said. “It is the most amazing place in the world, attracting people like me from every corner of the globe and turning them into Brummies. Article

continues below READ MORE: TOP COP URGED 'POLICE THE PICKET LINE' AS BIN COLLECTIONS CRIPPLED AGAIN BY STRIKING WORKERS “Brummies have played a vital role in shaping not only our

city but also the world." He continued that he planned to celebrate Birmingham in every neighbourhood and help inspire the next generation of the city’s leaders over the next year.