Police are investigating an altercation between a Labour councillor and former MP after a row erupted following an event in Birmingham.
Witness statements seen by GB News claim that Khalid Mahmood, who was the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was aggressively confronted by at least two campaigners at the event in early April.
Witness statements seen by GB News claim that Khalid Mahmood, who was the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was aggressively confronted by at least two campaigners at the event in early April.
At the Labour Party event for ‘Building Bridges in the Muslim Community’, witnesses alleged that Cllr Waseem Zaffar had to be restrained after approaching Mr Mahmood and shouting profanities at the former MP.
Witness statements seen by GB News claim Khalid Mahmood was aggressively confronted by at least two campaigners at the event
A Labour Party source strongly pushed back on allegations of anyone being restrained.
But an anonymous Labour campaigner who attended the event told GB News that the councillor was acting like a “hooligan” in the fracas.
They said: “Myself and others were eating after the event and then suddenly we saw Khalid being approached by another Labour campaigner.
“They were talking, but his voice started getting raised, he was pointing his fingers at Khalid. He was told to calm down, but then suddenly from the other side of the room, Waseem came running towards them.”
The source added: “The councillor was shouting and screaming at Khalid.”
The campaigner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “He was swearing a lot, but luckily lots of other people were there who held him back, including senior figures in the party.”
GB News understands that Labour’s regional director for the West Midlands, Sam Donaghue, was involved in keeping Zaffar away from Mahmood.
“There were a few people who grabbed Khalid and took him away, he was quite upset and in a state of shock. You just don’t expect that to happen, especially not to an MP who is trying to build bridges.”
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating a complaint of fear or provocation of violence made at an event held on Livery Street, Birmingham, on the evening of April 3.
“Witnesses or people with information should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/204045/25.”
The event was organised to improve links between Labour and Birmingham’s Muslim community after the party lost thousands of votes to independent candidates.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “We take all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures.”