Mohammad Islam took 101 days to write a 138-word letter to council colleagues admitting his behaviour “did not meet the standards expected”

Mohammad Islam continues to serve as an independent councillor for Ponders End

Former Enfield mayor Mohammad Islam has finally apologised for breaching Enfield Council’s members’ code of conduct – more than three months after being ordered to.

Cllr Islam, who served as mayor for a year prior to standing down in May, wrote in a letter to councillors that he recognised his actions “did not meet the standards expected of an elected member”.

The council’s conduct committee ruled in August that the ex-mayor breached the members’ code by “bringing his office into disrepute” after he used his position as mayor to support visa applications for friends and family in Bangladesh, against the advice of council officers.

Only last week, the conduct committee met again to urge Cllr Islam to apologise for his behaviour, as well as comply with other requests such as attending training and not using his ‘past mayor’ badge, which he was seen wearing just two weeks after the original committee ruling in August.

The Ponders End ward councillor – now serving as an independent after being kicked out of the Labour group – finally wrote his letter of apology on Friday (21st), but it was not sent to the Dispatch until today (Wednesday 26th) by the council’s press office.

Repeated emails and calls to Cllr Islam from the Dispatch have gone unanswered.

In his 138-word letter, Cllr Islam said: “I would like to offer my sincere apology to the council for the conduct in relation to the invitation letters to attend council programs [sic]. I recognise that the actions did not meet the standards expected of an elected member and may have affected confidence in the council.

“I have already written to the governance team requesting that they provide a date for me to undertake the code of conduct training, and I look forward to completing it at the earliest opportunity.

“I remain committed to ensuring that my future conduct reflects the responsibilities and expectations of public office.

“While I accept the findings of the committee and comply fully with its decision, I will be raising some separate concerns about aspects of the process through the appropriate channels.”

Separately, the Home Office continues to investigate Cllr Islam over suspected immigration offences.

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