First Muslim MP who backed Iraq war

KHALID MAHMOOD became England’s first Muslim MP in 2001, when he was elected to represent Birmingham Parry Barr – a constituency he has held for the past 17 years.

Born in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, Mr Mahmood came to the UK as a child and attended a comprehensive school in Birmingham.

The former engineer became involved in the local Labour Party at an early age and was elected as one of Birmingham’s youngest councillors in 1990.

He moved to Kuwait for work, returning to enrol in the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University). While studying, he was selected to stand as the Labour candidate in the 2001 general election.

Two years later, he was the only Muslim Labour MP who staunchly supported Tony Blair over the Iraq war.

He was rewarded by being appointed parliamentary private secretary to Tony Mcnulty, then transport minister, but resigned from the government in 2006 after signing a letter from Labour MPS calling for Mr Blair to step down.

In 2009, The Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Mahmood had claimed for nine luxury hotel stays with Elaina Cohen, his former girlfriend and parliamentary assistant. The cost to the taxpayer was £1,350.

Mr Mahmood has also been in the papers for giving a House of Commons security pass to Ms Cohen’s teenage son while they were in a relationship. At the time he said this was done “to give him something to do”.

The MP initially supported the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union before switching to Remain.

Since October 2016, he has served as shadow foreign minister for Europe. He also chairs the Tackling Terrorism All-party Parliamentary Group.