A Mayor of a large UK town has resigned today following the news that he helped a friend who had been convicted of four serious sexual offences obtain a taxi driver’s licence.
Shuban Shafiq, the Liberal Democrat mayor for the town of Milton Keynes stood down today having admitted that he vouched for a man convicted of rape and three other sexual offences.
The news follows the report this week that 1400 children had been groomed and raped by gangs of mostly Pakistani men in Rotherham, England.
The council is now launching an investigation into at least six other drivers who were handed licences.
Shafiq said today: “Sadly I gave a reference to someone, three and a half years ago, regarding the few years I have known them in Milton Keynes, with hindsight I should not have. Now I am Mayor it is best that I resign as the office of Mayor must be above criticism.
“It has been a great honour for me to have been elected Mayor and it is with regret that I have had to resign.”
Shafiq is a Trustee of the Wolverton Mosque in the area, and was only elected in June of this year. He intends to continue serving as a Liberal Democrat Councillor.
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