Borough's new Mayor set to make history

Nosheen Dad, 34, was first elected to Kirklees Council in 2015 and has been Deputy Mayor in 2023-24

History will be made later this year when Kirklees gets its first woman of colour and first Muslim woman as Mayor, it has been confirmed.

At the age of 34, Labour councillor Nosheen Dad, who is currently the Deputy Mayor, will also become the youngest ever person to take on the role.

Ms Dad, who was first elected to the Dewsbury South ward in 2015, said she was "truly humbled and honoured" to become Mayor.

The new civic team for Kirklees is due to take office at the Mayor Making ceremony on Wednesday 22 May.

Before being elected to Kirklees Council, Ms Dad studied politics with media at the University of Huddersfield.

While there, she was elected as the first female Muslim president of the Students’ Union and was also voted on to the National Executive Council for the National Union of Students.

'Amplify voices'

Ms Dad, who lives in Dewsbury with her husband, Shiraz Khan, and their two children, said: “I’ve had a fantastic year as Deputy Mayor, meeting many fantastic people across Kirklees.

“I am truly humbled and honoured to be the youngest and first female Asian Mayor of our great district.

"I hope to amplify the voices of everyone in Kirklees, to celebrate the work, community cohesion and the selflessness of people that sometimes goes unnoticed."

She added that she was "looking forward to meeting many individuals and groups that make Kirklees a great place to live, work and raise a family".

The role of the Mayor of Kirklees is a ceremonial one which is appointed every year at the council's Annual General Meeting.

It is a non-partisan role and the Mayor chairs meetings of the council to ensure it is a forum for debate and that members of the executive are held to account.

Ms Dad will take on the ceremonial role of Mayor of Kirklees for the year 2024-25 in April

In addition, the Mayor is consider the "first citizen" of Kirklees, meaning they take precedence in the borough over everyone except members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant or their representative.

According to Kirklees Council, Ms Dad's husband was expected to join the civic party as the Mayor's consort.

Meanwhile, Conservative councillor Elizabeth Smaje was to join the Civic Team as Deputy Mayor for Kirklees in 2024-25, a council spokesperson said.

Ms Smaje was first elected to the Birstall and Birkenshaw ward in 2004.

She said: "I look forward to supporting the Mayor during her term in office and to meeting people and groups in the many communities throughout the borough."

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