A by-election will be held next month after Barnet Council’s former finance chief resigned as a councillor amid controversy over false employment claims.
The upcoming poll in Burnt Oak ward was confirmed following Ammar Naqvi’s resignation as a Labour ward councillor.
It came swiftly after Naqvi was fired as cabinet member for finance for falsely claiming to have worked as an associate professor at University College London Medical School.
Following the revelations about Naqvi’s invented employment history last Monday (January 6), council leader Cllr Barry Rawlings made the decision to remove him from the cabinet and withdraw the Labour whip.
Explaining the decision to sack Naqvi last Tuesday (January 7), a Barnet Labour group spokesperson said that “explanations provided by him have not proven satisfactory”.
Cllr Rawlings assumed the responsibilities of cabinet member for financial sustainability and reducing poverty on an interim basis.
Barnet Labour group has since announced Simon Radford, an East Barnet ward councillor, will take over the finance portfolio on January 28. Councillor Zahra Beg, cabinet member for equalities and the voluntary and community sector, will take over responsibility for poverty .
Cllr Simon Radford. Photo: LDRS/Simon OConnor
Cllr Simon Radford. Photo: LDRS/Simon O’Connor
Cllr Radford has been an East Barnet ward councillor since 2022 and currently chairs the council’s pension fund committee. Following his appointment to cabinet he will step down as committee chair.
Outside politics, Cllr Radford is a director of policy at Milen Institute, a global finance think tank, and has previously worked in investment advisory and as a management consultant at Deloitte.
A Barnet Labour group spokesperson said: “The leader of the council has asked Cllr Radford if he will join cabinet as the portfolio holder for financial sustainability and he has accepted.”
Eligible voters living in Burnt Oak ward will be able to vote when polls open on Thursday, February 13. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.
The council is encouraging residents to check they are registered to vote before the deadline at midnight on Tuesday, January 28. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on January 29.
The deadline for residents wishing to stand as a candidate has not been confirmed but anyone interested is advised to contact Barnet’s electoral services directly.
Photo ID will be required at polling stations on election day. For more information visit Burnt Oak by-election.
Ammar Naqvi was approach for comment.