Tonight's 'arrangement' Cllr Mistry, Deputy Mayor (Conservative) on the left, Cllr Agha, Mayor (Labour) on the right
A minority Labour administration led once again by Muhammed Butt, was installed this evening, with the help of an 'arrangement' with the Conservative Party. The arrangement saw the Conservatives installed as the official Opposition (with appropriate allowances), despite the Lib Dems having the same number of seats; being given both Scrutiny chair positions (with appropriate allowances) and the position of Deputy Mayor.
Brent Green Party issued the following statement:
On May 7th residents gave a resounding response to the question of the type of leadership they want in Brent. Labour lost twenty four seats and their control of the Council, securing under thirty percent of the popular vote. This is not a mandate to continue the status quo. Brent voted overwhelmingly for change.
Muhammed Butt has been leader of Brent Council for fourteen years. In any other circumstance, a political leader who led one’s party to such defeat after such long tenure would resign and pass the mantle on to a new leader.
This evening, enabled by a deal with the Conservative Party, instead of change Brent residents have been given more of the same – a minority-led Labour administration under Muhammed Butt – rather than the collaborative model of governance they voted for.
This is not the transformation in the way decisions are made in Brent that residents voted for. This does not signify the cultural shift for cross-party collaboration, scrutiny, and accountability that Brent Green Party had hoped for, and indeed that we believe Brent needs.
We have been open to a formal arrangement with Labour with policy commitments and governance changes, but their national party would rather they strike a deal with the Conservative Party than the Green Party, ignoring the progressive values of its supporters.
What further sign could there be of the moral decay within the Labour Party?
Multi-party politics in Brent is here to stay. Voters are moving away from the two-party system and all four parties in Brent are going to have to collaborate, seek consensus and work together for better outcomes for residents.
More people voted for the Green Party in Brent than ever before, and our role here on Brent Council is vital. Opposition councillors are essential in keeping this new administration in check, and standing up for democratic decision-making and justice for Brent residents. We are not here to play political games, but to work hard to protect local services and public spaces, stand up for local communities against extractive industries, and protect our natural environment.
We are disappointed in today’s outcome for Brent’s residents, and what this means for democracy – but we remain ready to collaborate with anyone who shares our principles of environmental and social justice and a commitment to the best outcome for residents, rather than for a particular political party.
29 comments:
Honesty disgraceful from Labour..
also.. what position is "Mayor's Consort" ???!?!? or am I reading that incorrectly
Really disappointing to see. Have to say as a resident, Anton Georgiou was amazing at the meeting tonight and is a true credit to Brent. Maybe I'll have to take a look at the Lib Dems again.
Id like to hear from a tory what policies they negotiated
The Tories negotiated money in terms of the extra allowances they will earn.
Politics is all about allowances and perks.
To be expected from Labour but a complete betrayal by the Tories!!!
How deviant dishonest and self serving are the Tories in Brent .
The Tories in Brent have just handed even more votes to Reform.
To right about politics and money...
In 2026 a Brent Councillor's basic salary, known as an 'allowance', is £13,978 per year.
On top of this they can earn these extra allowances if elected or appointed to these roles...
Leader of the Council: £42,388
Deputy Leader: £30,891
Other Cabinet Members: £20,354 each
Chairs of Scrutiny Committees: £15,229 each
Chair of the Planning Committee: £15,229
Leader of the Principal Opposition Group: £8,531
Mayor: £7,615
Deputy Mayor: £3,449
Chair of the Audit & Standards Committee: £5,332
Majority Party Group Whip: £4,265
Leader of the Second Opposition Group: £4,100
Chair of the Licensing Committee: £3,449
Planning Committee Member: £2,322
Licensing Committee Member: £2,120
Chairs of Brent Connects Area Forums: £2,120
Very clear why Butt denied Anton chance to be opposition leader. Willing to stick my neck out and say he will lead Lib Dems to power in Brent next time.. so glad he came back!!!!
I watched the ‘ stitch up’ of the residents of Brent tonight by an unholy alliance between a defeated Labour administration with Mohammed Butt desperately clinging on to power and a weak bunch of totally unprincipled Tories who sold their souls and their principles for a smattering of imagined power and meagre allowances ! Only the greens and the Liberal Democrat’s showed any backbone and vision ! The repercussions will be serious! Bring on a Green Lib Dem alliance the sooner the better and let’s get rid of this corrupt cabal!
Butt won by so few votes in his ward yet stays on as Brent Council Leader - if only the other parties had worked together tactically in the election there we might have been rid of him...
Election results for Tokyngton, 7 May 2026 https://share.google/fRqZXjG75yhB35igq
At least all the Tories and Labour all stayed for the entire meeting, unlike two of the Green Councillors who left the meeting halfway through when there were still votes to be made. Not a great look start for the Greens if they cant be bothered to stay for the first meeting of the new Council!
Cllr. Anton Giorgeou, Liberal Democrat’s Leader was brilliant! On the coalition of Labour and the Tories, this engineered by Butt and waved through by his subservient Labour councillors, Giorgeou called it as it is: “A Tory - Labour stitch up”. Welcome back, Anton! Brent politics is just about to get exciting!
Councillor Muhammed (Mo) Butt, Leader of the Brent London Borough Council, has already faced several controversies and scandals during his tenure.
Nablus Twinning Backlash: In 2025, Cllr Butt faced heavy criticism and accusations of "sectarianism" from Jewish community leaders regarding Brent's controversial move to twin with Nablus in the West Bank.
Stifling Democracy: In 2024, opposition groups and residents accused Cllr Butt of "stifling democracy" by attempting to change meeting rules to make it harder for councillors to challenge ("call in") cabinet decisions.
Aggressive Behavior: In 2024, he was publicly criticized by local Liberal Democrats and residents after an altercation at a council meeting where he was recorded telling a resident they were "embarrassing" themselves.
The Tayo Oladapo Cover-Up Allegations (2016): Cllr Butt was investigated after a former Labour staffer alleged he told officials to keep the death of Councillor Tayo Oladapo secret for six weeks to avoid a by-election.
Social Media Missteps: Cllr Butt apologized in 2016 and resigned from his equalities role after sharing a Facebook video that compared Israel to Islamic State. He also issued an apology in 2022 after sharing an anti-Israel TikTok video, which he claimed he did not watch in full before reposting.COVID-19 Breach (2020):
Along with another councillor, he apologized to the public after breaching Covid-19 guidelines by attending a restricted prayer service at a local temple.
Did anybody really expect anything else from a leader who's playbook is to - how shall we put it - ensure the right investment reaches the right places to ensure his tenure in post.
The Greens really didn't do as well as they were supposed to. You want control? Win more seats. That's the system.
Brent Tory politics and policies in Brent are about money and position. Oh yes, and planning is apparently important to them too.
The Greens got 22.35% of the vote which was second highest after Labour. Would have made more sense to ally with them.
Hi, I have checked with the Wembley Park councillors re early departure. They had an urgent meeting with Wembley Park resident organisers on a time sensitive issues. They informed the appropriate Brent Counci officer that they would have to leave early for this meeting ahead of the AGM.
Anyone with a minute sense of decency would have resigned as Leader based on the election results, Butt oh no ot Butt, this man has no shame and is as thick as the rhinoceros skin he lives in.
What's a 'Wembley Park resident organisers'?
Agree!
Add to this all the freebie tickets Butt got from Wembley Stadium after granting them licences for extra major events despite residents being severely impacted on event days...
Brent council leader accepts £6,000 worth of tickets to Wembley Stadium events - MyLondon https://share.google/vjuDEO84ecz4lH557
Funny that he didn't declare any freebie tickets for Oasis or Coldplay last year - can't believe he didn't get them! Who can check this?
Brent electorate denied the change that they voted for.
Last night's excruciating Annual Council Meeting delivered a Pyrrhic victory for over 70% of Brent's electorate.
Watching it, was akin to having a drunken Ophthalmologist performing ocular surgery with a red-hot-poker doused in chilli oil, (which might have been preferable)!
It would seem to any rational thinker, that the myopic, deluded Tories capitulating, for the promise of power and influence are suffering from Stockholm syndrome.
Observing the hapless Kansagra trying to convince himself, his party, and the audience (Honestly!); that the move was a pragmatic and honourable shift, in the name of democracy; demonstrated industrial-scale gullibility.
Reluctantly you have to admit, Labour's manipulation was a master stroke. A polished sleight-of-hand deceit; no doubt hawked on the premise of “ending uncertainty and ensuring smooth decision making for Brent residents”; dangling Pyrite and flattery in front of the credulous, and desperate-for-power Tories worked.
Congratulations “Tories”, on your engineering, and ensuring the continuation of this xxxxxxxx (insert your own adjective as you think fit!) administration, and maintaining the status quo.
You reached the Crossroads and chose the blind alley. Can't wait for the scales to fall!
You are now “Labour's puppets”, or in urban slang, “Butt's Bitches”, for the next four years!
You've been scammed!!!
Thank Georgina gould
Agree Amazing Cllrs Georgiou and Lorber. Thank you both. Our residents voices for democracy
Probably physically sick at the Tory - Labour stitch up . I was heaving and ready to vomit.
They left for this ?? Wembley Park Brent LRU open meeting
Thursday, May 21·7:00 – 8:30pm - was this that Urgent and not clearly not organised by residents ???
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