Fact check: Which cities in England have had Muslim mayors in the past?

1. What the original claims said — a sweeping list that demands scrutiny

The viral claim circulating online named London, Birmingham, Leeds, Blackburn, Sheffield, Oxford, Luton, Oldham and Rochdale as cities that have had Muslim mayors; other reporting later added Brighton & Hove to that group. That list implied a uniform category of mayoralty across municipalities, but it did not distinguish between directly-elected metro/regional mayors or ceremonial civic mayors, nor did it timestamp when those individuals served. The mixture of role types is critical because public power and visibility differ sharply between an executive mayor such as London’s Sadiq Khan and a ceremonial council mayor ^{[2] [1]}.

2. What verifiably did happen — mayoralty examples confirmed by reporting

Reporting confirms Sadiq Khan’s tenure as Mayor of London (first elected 2016) and media coverage repeatedly highlights his identity as a Muslim in the context of London governance and national politics ^[4]. Independent local reporting also confirms Brighton & Hove elected Mohammed Asaduzzaman as mayor in May 2024, described as the city’s first Muslim mayor; that role is a civic one within the city council’s ceremonial rotation, not a directly-elected executive mayoralty ^[1]. These two examples are the clearest, well-documented cases across recent reputable sources ^{[4] [1]}.

3. Where the list becomes misleading — fact-checkers flagged problems

Fact-check investigations found the viral list partly false and misleading, noting that several named cities either had no Muslim mayor at the time of the claim or that the individuals referenced held different, less powerful roles. The 2017-era compilation that underpinned some viral posts failed to update context and conflated civic mayors with directly-elected mayors who wield executive authority. Fact-checks in 2024 reiterated that the assertion overstated the extent and nature of Muslim mayoral leadership across those municipalities ^{[2] [3]}.

4. Why role definitions matter — civic versus directly-elected mayors explained

England’s system includes two main mayor types: ceremonial/civic mayors chosen by local councils and directly-elected mayors who head combined authorities or city governments with executive powers. Civic mayors often serve short terms with ceremonial duties, while directly-elected mayors have an electoral mandate and strategic control over areas like transport and planning. Many viral lists ignore this distinction, presenting ceremonial incumbencies as if they match the national profile and authority of mayors like London’s Sadiq Khan ^{[2] [5]}.

5. Timeline matters — some examples are recent, others dated or absent

The best-documented recent occurrences are Sadiq Khan (London, in office since 2016) and Brighton & Hove’s 2024 civic mayor, reported in May 2024. Fact-check coverage from 2017 through 2024 shows that some viral claims originated several years earlier and were not updated for subsequent elections or clarified for role-type; therefore, a list assembled in 2017 can be obsolete or misleading when cited later. Contemporary fact-check work in 2024 emphasized that several named cities did not have Muslim mayors at the time of publication ^{[4] [1] [3]}.

6. Multiple perspectives and likely motives behind the claim

One perspective treats such lists as attempts to highlight increasing diversity in local governance; another treats them as political messaging designed to suggest demographic or cultural shifts. Fact-checkers consistently flagged intentional or inadvertent amplification of ambiguous claims, where the omission of role type and timing inflates perceived political power. Readers should note that sources frequently have editorial frames—from local council reporting to national fact-check units—so cross-checking role definitions and dates is essential ^{[2] [3]}.

7. Bottom line and how to verify future claims quickly

The accurate, verifiable conclusion is that some English cities have had Muslim mayors, including London (executive mayor Sadiq Khan) and Brighton & Hove (2024 civic mayor), but the broader list circulated online is partly inaccurate because it conflates different mayoral roles and outdated information. To verify future claims, consult local council records or reputable fact-checking reports, check whether the mayoral role is ceremonial or executive, and confirm the date of service; these steps match the distinctions highlighted across the cited reporting ^{[4] [1] [3]}.