A former Conservative councillor from Walsall has been awarded £187,000 after winning a landmark racial discrimination case against members of his former local party. Mohammed Arif took the now-dissolved Walsall Conservative Federation to Birmingham County Court, alleging discrimination and victimisation linked to his Pakistani heritage and Muslim faith.
Following an eight-day trial, His Honour Judge Tindal ruled that Mr Arif had been subjected to unlawful discrimination and victimisation. The judge found that his Muslim faith was ‘weaponised’ against him when the federation decided not to select him as a local election candidate in 2015. The ruling also stated that Mr Arif was victimised through his expulsion and re-expulsion from both the federation and the Conservative Party.
The defendants, including former Conservative councillor Suky Samra (lead defendant for the 2014-2018 period), John Baker, and Brian Letts, were ordered to pay 85 per cent of Mr Arif’s legal costs, totalling £150,000, plus £37,000 in compensation for injury to feelings.
Response from Mohammed Arif
Mr Arif said the judgement confirmed that no political organisation ‘is above the law’. He added: “The financial consequences reflect the seriousness of the discrimination and victimisation I faced, as well as the long legal battle that I had to endure to attain justice. I am sharing these figures publicly as a deterrent to anyone from any political party who believes they can victimise or discriminate against others. Through this ruling, a strong message has been sent to those who believe they can misuse power without accountability, they know now the law will protect those who are discriminated against and victimised.”
Defendants’ Response
Mr Samra responded: “We are officers representing that executive for the period of 2014-2018—must be about 40 people in that time—and no individuals are personally liable as it was an unincorporated association. The federation maintains it always acted on Conservative party guidance throughout. It should be noted that the federation was made up of unpaid volunteers. Multiple individuals of all faiths attended different meetings involving Mohammed Arif and no one individual made any decision.”
The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.
