Words by Edington Local editorial team / Pics supplied by Akhmed Yakoob
A criminal defence lawyer with family in Erdington is a last minute candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections, standing as an independent on 2 May.
Akhmed Yakoob is a director at Maurice Andrews Solicitors, based in Hockley, and offers defence counsel to people charged with crimes from bank fraud to murder. The strapline on the Maurice Andrews website reads: ‘There is a defence for every offence’.
Mr Yakoob is also a prominent social media figure in the region, with 122k followers on Instagram and 596 followers on X (formerly Twitter).
He also has 176.2K followers on TikTok where he offers no holds barred legal advice. One of his online videos on the popular platform, ‘Two things you can’t be arrested for’, has received over 600k views.
But the latest mayoral race hopeful believes he can offer the region fresh leadership and an alternative to the main political parties who he feels “speak for no-one”.
Mr Yakoob grew up in Aston and now lives in Aldridge, but has close family in Erdington on Burcote Road – just off Tyburn Road.
He says he has seen first hand the “pain” that successive Conservative governments have brought with their austerity agenda and cuts to services such as the police force and social housing.
He told Erdington Local: “For 13 years the Tories have had power and places like Erdington have felt the pain that has brought.
“Crime has gone up in the West Midlands and people want change.”
Mr Yakoob also has personal experience of how HMOs can adversely impact a residential area, as they have in Gravelly Hill, Stockland Green, and elsewhere across the Erdington constituency.
He said: “I grew up in Aston, but as I have four children I had to move out because of the amount of HMOs in the area… which I know the people of Stockland Green and Erdington also suffer the consequences of.”
He added: “They (HMOs) ruin an area, drug dealing goes up, and I just did not want my children to grow up around that.
“As Mayor I will do everything I can to stop HMOs ruining residential areas.”
The last candidate to announce his campaign to become West Midlands Mayor and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, this is the first attempt at running for elected office for the 36-year-old father of four.
However, his Twitter profile reads ‘Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Ladywood Birmingham’ – referencing the seat currently held by Shabana Mahmood MP, who recently faced protests from her own constituents after abstaining on a vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Mr Yakoob believes his candidacy will also be a direct threat to the Labour Party, who he feels have taken the South Asian vote “for granted” and will be “scared” of his bid for Mayor.
He has also received the backing of prominent politician George Galloway, who won the Rochdale by-election in March on a pro-Palestine platform – standing for the Workers Party of Britain.
On his campaign brochure Mr Yakoob has also referenced the conflict in the Middle East, stating ‘LEND GAZA YOUR VOTE’ and encouraging people to support his bid for Mayor on 2 May.
Inside the leaflet, the first two campaign pledges are for “unashamed support” and “aid” for people in Gaza, with the troubled area of Kashmir – fought over by India and Pakistan – also referenced.
In a recent tweet, George Galloway vocalised his endorsement for Mr Yakoob in his bid to be West Midlands Mayor.
He posted: “The only choice for #WestMidlandsMayor @Akhmedyakoob1”
Mr Yakoob told Erdington Local: “I am delighted to have got the endorsement of George Galloway. He is a man who stands against injustice and I am proud to have him at my side.
“He will be coming to Birmingham to campaign by my side.”
The only choice for #WestMidlandsMayor @Akhmedyakoob1 pic.twitter.com/X4hCded6Rp
— George Galloway MP (@georgegalloway) March 29, 2024
He added: “The main political parties speak for no-one, that is why I am standing to be a voice for the voiceless.
“Of course Labour are scared that I am standing, for generations they have took the South Asian vote for granted.
“George (Galloway) showed in Rochdale Labour cannot count on the South Asian vote and my election will further prove that point as we head into a General Election.”
As a criminal lawyer for Maurice Andrews, Mr Yakoob and has represented defendants from across the city.
When asked how he can promise to cut crime whilst also making a living representing people charged with serious offences, he said: “I love my job. And I believe everyone in this country deserves a fair trial.
“And I also believe in the rehabilitation of offenders, as their lawyer during a trial I am often the first person to see someone make the decision to change their ways, whether they are found guilty or not.
He said: “Crime keeps on going up and our court system cannot cope after so many cuts.”
Mr Yakoob also founded his own gym in Walsall called Pound 4 Pound which encourages youngsters to swerve street violence.
He said: “The motto of our gym is ‘Gloves Up, Knives Down’ and I see how knife crime wrecks lives.
“I want to save youth centres and employ more youth workers but in Birmingham they are closing them down and cutting youth worker jobs.”
He added: “I urge young people to register to vote so they can back me on 2 May.”
Also running for West Midlands Mayor are Richard parker (Labour), Sunny Virk (Lib Dems), Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Greens), Elaine Williams (Reform) – alongside incumbent Mayor Andy Street (Conservative).
For more on Akhmed Yakoob click on the links to follow him on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.