Mohammad Islam was suspended by the Labour Party after the investigation came to light, reports James Cracknell

The Home Office in Westminster and (inset) Mohammad Islam in his former role as mayor (credit Enfield Council) — The Home Office and (inset, credit Enfield Council) Mohammad Islam as mayor

Ex-Enfield mayor Mohammad Islam is under investigation over suspected immigration offences, the Home Office has confirmed.

Cllr Islam, who finished his year-long term as mayor in May, was last week suspended by the Labour Party amid the allegations around his conduct.

The Dispatch understands the Home Office has been investigating the Ponders End councillor for several months and that Labour decided to suspend Cllr Islam after becoming aware of the probe.

No further details of the investigation have been confirmed, although it is believed to be linked directly to his role as mayor. It remains ongoing.

Cllr Islam continues to sit as an independent member of Enfield Council.

A public conduct hearing is due to take place later this summer and will detail the findings of an internal civic centre investigation, which has been separate to the work being done by the Home Office.

Cllr Islam declined to comment when approached by the Dispatch.

A council spokesperson said: “A complaint has been received under the code of conduct relating to Cllr Mohammad Islam. The Labour group has withdrawn the whip from Cllr Islam and the matter is being considered by the council’s monitoring officer.

“The issue will be referred to the councillor conduct committee in due course. The council cannot comment on individual cases while they are under investigation. All internal governance protocols and constitutional processes have been followed.”

Cllr Islam grew up in Bangladesh but is a UK citizen. After studying in Dhaka, he moved to the UK in 2004 to complete his further education at the University of Roehampton and Queen Mary University and later gained British citizenship.

According to his register of interests he is a self-employed IT worker as well as a trustee treasurer for Enfield Law Centre.

Responding to the news of the Home Office’s investigation into Cllr Islam, Alessandro Georgiou, the leader of the opposition Conservatives, said: “I am appalled at these allegations regarding Cllr Islam. If this is true, and he conducted these acts while [serving as] the Labour mayor of Enfield, he needs to resign [as a councillor] and face justice.

“He has brought the borough into disrepute.”

The role of mayor in Enfield is only a civic one and does not carry any decision-making powers in terms of council policies, although it does involve chairing full council meetings. Typically mayors are invited to represent the borough at various local events, while they are also required to nominate a chosen charity for which funds are raised throughout the year.

Two years after being elected as a councillor to represent Ponders End in 2022, Cllr Islam was voted to become mayor by his colleagues in May 2024. Cllr Islam was replaced as mayor by Upper Edmonton councillor Margaret Greer on 14^th May this year.

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