‘Olympic Games to bring multiple benefits to Waltham Forest’

Mayor Councillor of Waltham Forest borough Masood Ahmad was born in Multan Pakistan. After graduating from Punjab University in 1978, he obtained degrees in Economics and Accountancy from University of Wales. He was elected councillor for the first time in 2002 on Labour party ticket. His father Malik Qadir Bux Thahim was a well placed political and social personality of the area. Masood after his election as Mayor chose Whipps Cross Hospital and Farishteh Trust Charity. Whip Cross Hospital needs a portable ultrasound scanning machine while Farishteh Trust requires a mini -bus for handicapped children for which he is campaigning wholeheartedly. He is also part of the governing body of the South Groove Primary School. The Asians interviewed him on problems relating to his area and the charity work.

The Asians: Which place in Pakistan you belong to?
Masood Ahmad: My father belonged to Multan. He was very active in politics and social work and had been a Basic Democracy member and two time councillors during Ayub regime. He died on April 9, 1985.

The Asians: What brought you here?
Masood Ahmad: I came here as a student in 1978. After graduating in Economics and Accountancy from University of Wales in 1982, I came to London and opted to settle in Waltham Stow where I got Assistant Accounting job in the second largest shipping company of the country. This company also obtained three year work permit from Home office for me although I intended to return to Pakistan after graduation.

The Asians: How many siblings do you have? Is anyone else from your family in politics?
Masood Ahmad: We are six brothers and two sisters. Four of the brothers and one sister is elder than me while one brother and one sister are younger than me. None of them are in politics.

The Asians: What problems did you face being a Pakistani and an Asian?
Masood Ahmad: Comparing to others I faced no problems in this country.

The Asians: As you mentioned that your father had been in politics. Didn’t it motivate you into politics in Pakistan?
Masood Ahmad: I often visit Pakistan but so far as your question is concerned it seemed very difficult for me to settle there what to think of entering into politics of that country. Politicians were not that much corrupt during the period of my father but things have been changed a lot since then. Keeping these factors in mind it was easier for me to enter into politics in this country.

The Asians: Why did you turn to politics from Accounting and choosing the Labour Party?
Masood Ahmad: I had been participating in elections in my school days and remained President Pakistan society for two years here in the University. The family atmosphere was also political because of my father’s interest in politics. I joined Labour Party because its manifesto is based on socialist ideology which I found nearer to mine. 

The Asians: How you became councillor?
Masood Ahmad: I joined Labour party during the Conservative government. Their politics damaged the interest of the ethnic minorities. Ethnic minority community was the main target of pool and council taxes as six people used to live in one home while those living in mansions and big houses were benefited by this policy. There were many other differences with that Party. I joined Labour Party in 1995 and attended party meetings at local level. I became chairman of the party’s Waltham stow branch in 1995 and remained on that seat for three years with consensus and consolidated the party ranks. My party and colleagues asked me to become councillor in 1998 but my position did not permit me to do so. However, in 2002 when council seats of Lea Bridge ward fell vacant I also filed my nomination and got elected. Presently Lea Bridge ward is the safest ward of the Labour party. I reached this position on merit and never believed in reference and always liked to work as team.

The Asians: How many councillors of Pakistani origins were elected at that time from Labour and other parties?
Masood Ahmad: Five members including me were elected from Labour party platform while other parties did not field candidate with Pakistani origin.

The Asians: How did you get elected as Mayor?
Masood Ahmad: I became councillor from Lea Bridge ward in 2002 where majority of my voters are whites. I remained deputy mayor in 2005-06. I have also remained chairman of the planning committee. My party high command asked me to take over the responsibility of the mayorship after the general elections this year. I thought myself to be fit for this job after two or three years but the party said that this year is of great impotence because of political changes at national and local levels, therefore I must accept this responsibility. Previously Bing council was in power in the borough but after the general elections Labour party has secured the majority. There have been many challenges after assuming the charge.

The Asians: What were your feelings after becoming mayor?
Masood Ahmad: It had been a very happy moment and a matter of pride for me and my community as I had been elevated to the status of the first citizen of the borough. I have chosen Whip Cross Hospital and Frishte Trust as my charities. The hospital needs a portable ultra sound machine while the trust a bus for handicapped children. I hope the community would help me with open heart in these noble tasks as it would be for the people.

The Asians: What is the reason behind Conservative party win at national and Labour Party’s success at local level in London?
Masood Ahmad: Labour party voters’ turn over during general elections is usually better than that in local elections. Since the local elections this year were held together with the general elections on May 6 and the weather was also fair that day Labour voters came out in greater number that made the difference. Another thing that mattered was the difference between the manifestoes of both the parties. Labour voters know that the Conservative party after returning to power imposes cuts on benefits and other welfare services. This exactly happened as the Conservative scrapped council services, slashed children benefits, social security and other allowances that would certainly result in serious consequences.

The Asians: Labour government was charged that it left nothing in the national exchequer?
Masood Ahmad: No it’s not true. So far as budget deficit is concerned big economies of the world are no exception to it. Global economy is depending on dummy or plastic money. In my opinion GDP and deficit should be compared with other economies of the world. Economy during the ten years of Labour government remained very stable.

The Asians: What is the population balance in Waltham borough?
Masood Ahmad: 65% are white while 35% ethnic minority that included Afro Caribbean, Chinese, Pakistanis, Indian, Bangladeshi, Tamils and others.

The Asians: What are the responsibilities of a mayor?
Masood Ahmad: Mayor’s role is quite ceremonial. He represents borough at various platforms and offers protocol as and when some dignitary visits the council but does not enjoy executive powers. This borough has 60 councillors of which 36 are from Labour Party, 18 from Conservative and 6 from Lib Dems. Leader of the Council holds Cabinet Chair and the executive powers. Waltham borough presently has 8 cabinet members. Their decisions are challenged by scrutiny committee. Council’s budget is of £4m.

The Asians: Does this amount is sufficient to run the council?
Masood Ahmad:  No, this is not enough. Here I would like to stress on one point that our people do not take census seriously and  get all their family members registered that affects the funding given by the Central government as many grants are based on population. Next census will be held in March. I would like to stress on the community to give complete detail of their family members in the census forms so that the next grant is given according to the actual population.

The Asians: What are the problems being faced by our community?
Masood Ahmad: The major problem is of housing or over-crowding as it is the root cause of all other problems. It causes family disputes and bad impact on the bringing up of the children as they are attracted to crimes. So far as other problems are concerned honour killing is a big problem especially in the Sikh community as majority of cases occur in that community. As a matter of fact we are not performing well as a community. We don’t have unity among us. We are not participating in community centre activities to that extent we should have done. Our community is also not very active in politics as their attention has been divided. The Pakistani and Kashmiri communities have helped Pakistanis in earthquake and flood disaster generously but they are also disappointed by the reports that the condition of the victims had not improved which should be looked into.

The Asians: Waltham borough is Olympic borough. What benefit the community would get out of it?
Masood Ahmad: The community would surely benefit as 10 per cent of the land of the borough is part of the Olympic park. Development made on this land would be transferred to the borough after the games conclude. The Olympic Games would also generate tourism in the area. We would host visitors from those countries with whom we have twinship treaty. Economic, social and cultural activities would be increased because of the gala event.

The Asians: Will you please tell us about your family?
Masood Ahmad: My wife Dr Lubna Ahmad is a Psychiatrist by profession. We have one daughter and two sons.

The Asians: What message would you like to give to the community?
Masood Ahmad: My only message to them is to live unitedly and pay special attention to their children.