Tag Archives: shaffaq mohammed

Mark Valladares

Maiden speech – Lord (Shaffaq) Mohammed

By Mark Valladares | Thu 8th May 2025 - 2:07 pm

Last week saw the second maiden speech from our recent small, but evidently perfectly-formed, Lords intake. Shaffaq made his debut during the Second Reading of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill last Thursday.

My Lords, it is with profound humility and sincere gratitude that I rise to make my maiden speech in your Lordships’ House. Never did I imagine, as a child born in Kashmir to parents from a humble farming background, that I would stand here among your Lordships, not as an observer but as an equal, entrusted with responsibilities to speak

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Mark Valladares

20-23 January 2025 – this week in the Lords

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th January 2025 - 11:17 am

Before I move onto this week’s report, I should take this opportunity to congratulate the new intake of Liberal Democrat peers, Shaffaq Mohammed and our former editorial team colleague here at Liberal Democrat Voice, Mark Pack. Mark will be introduced to the Lords on 13 February, although the Parliamentary calendar doesn’t indicate a date for Shaffaq yet. Oh, and, Mark, do you fancy taking on this column?

I should also say a few words about Jenny Randerson, who is sadly missed. I had the pleasure of working alongside her in the Party’s international work, and she was an astute observer of the politics of the ALDE Party but, most of all, such good company. In the Lords, her grasp of the transport brief, one of the less glamorous but busy frontbench responsibilities, was a firm one. I’ll personally miss her, and I know that I’m not alone in that regard.

And with that, on with the show.

There are two Government Bills this week to occupy Peers this week:

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Mary Reid

Shaffaq Mohammed and Mark Pack join the Lords

By Mary Reid | Fri 20th December 2024 - 5:41 pm

Congratulations to Shaffaq Mohammed and Mark Pack who have been appointed to the House of Lords!

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed has been Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield Council for 13 years and was a former Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber. He was a youth worker before he got directly involved in politics.

Back in 2011, he wrote about his story, from a boy in Kashmir to Leader of Sheffield Lib Dems. More recently he has been chairing a Carers’ Commission for Ed Davey, developing policy which has been so prominent in our campaigning as a party.

Dr Mark Pack has been no stranger to Lib Dem Voice, having been one of our founding editors and a prolific contributor over the years. His term of office as President of the Liberal Democrats comes to an end next year.

His early involvement with the party was at Lib Dem HQ where he served as Head of Innovations, bringing the party into the digital age. Although Mark has never stood for political office, he has acted as an energetic campaigner behind the scenes, developing real expertise in political campaigning, polling and electoral law.

There is a more detailed account of our two new peers here.

Mark and Shaffaq join Caroline Pidgeon, former Leader of the Lib Dems on the London Assembly, who was made a peer earlier this year.

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Simon McGrath

Shaffaq Mohammed’s splendid defence of freedom

By Simon McGrath | Thu 9th September 2021 - 7:32 pm

Shaffaq Mohammed, the Lib Dem leader of our group on Sheffield Council has criticised the a ban on the comedian Ray “Chubby Brown” performing at Sheffield City Hall.

Shaffaq says:

We live in a liberal society and people have individual freedom to choose to live the life they want and as part of that, they can choose to go watch a comedy show behind closed doors where no children are allowed.

He added:

It’s the start of a very slippery slope. Which comedian will be deemed not to be appropriate to come to Sheffield?

Would they move on to banning books and DVD’s in libraries next? Would people be banned from watching Roy Chubby Brown on Youtube next? Would they stop people from listening to rap music because clearly some of the lyrics can and are offensive?

In an interview on GB News Shaffaq says: “as a Liberal I defend people’s individual rights and individual freedom “

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Caron Lindsay

How Mosborough’s mascot motivated an energetic campaign

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 10th September 2016 - 3:59 pm

Every time I hear the word Mosborough, it makes me smile. What a brilliant result. From 14% and 4th place just 4 months ago, the Liberal Democrats took a stunning victory in a local by-election on Thursday night. I’m told Mosborough is a bellweather ward in Sheffield so it may well reflect how voters across the city are feeling.

This takes me back to the 90s when we were routinely winning by-elections against Labour in Sheffield and Chesterfield. Let’s hope that Thursday’s victory is a big leap forward to getting that sort of success again.

The Sheffield Star has some great coverage, including one of returning Cllr Gail Smith and the Lib Dem Leader on Sheffield City Council.  Shaffaq Mohammed, looking very pleased. Shaffaq said of Gail’s victory:

In 2008, we actually took control of the council by winning Mosborough. “This is a huge victory, it shows the Lib Dems in Sheffield are back and actually, all those seats we lost during the coalition years are there up for grabs. “This arrogant Labour council has been sent a very strong message that they cannot take the people of Sheffield for granted. “Mosborough has spoken on behalf of Sheffield – well done to the people of Mosborough for electing Gail Smith who is going to be an outstanding councillor.

Elsewhere, just like the losing team on the Apprentice, Labour are sobbing into their tea and kicking lumps out of each other. I saw on social media yesterday that some of them were saying that the candidate wasn’t a Corbyn backer, which is why the local Corbynista were to be found phoning for Corbyn, not their candidate on polling day. The voters, of course, didn’t know the candidate wasn’t a Corbyn fan so she was, they said, caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sheffield Star reports on that angle and on Sheffield MP Angela Smith blaming Corbyn for the terrible result. Isn’t it funny how none of them blame their awful local council? 

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The Voice

Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough by-elections set for May 5th

By The Voice | Thu 24th March 2016 - 6:56 pm

In news that will surprise nobody, Labour today moved the writ for the Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough by-elections. It is defending the two seats following the resignation of Huw Irranca-Davies to stand for the Welsh Assembly and the death of Harry Harpham.

This news comes on the day a very welcome poll puts us at 10%, just 1% behind UKIP:

One poll is nothing to get too excited about, but, combined with the trends in local by-elections, it is an encouraging sign. There are certainly worse ways to kick off election season. The fieldwork was conducted in the aftermath of the budget, and may suggest that people are starting to see how much we reined the Tories in when we were in Government.

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Stephen Tall

In other news… on Jess Ennis, Judy Steel & other stories

By Stephen Tall | Sun 12th August 2012 - 4:45 pm

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past few days…

Campaign to rename Tudor Square in honour of Jess (Postcode Gazette)

Sheffield politicians want to rename Tudor Square in honour of Jessica Ennis. The Liberal Democrats have backed a campaign which went viral on twitter on Saturday night, following Jessica’s victory in the women’s heptathlon. The suggestion follows calls by Nick Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam, that Ennis be granted Freedom of the City. Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield Council, said: “Every Sheffielder will have been bursting

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Stephen Tall

In other news… Thurso on banking, Ward on immigration, Swales on G4S & other stories

By Stephen Tall | Sun 15th July 2012 - 5:25 pm

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past few days…

John Thurso MP to lead banking inquiry (John O’Groat Journal)

CAITHNESS, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso has been elected to lead an inquiry into how the banking system is run. The Lib Dem politician has been chosen as one of five representatives who will

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