Sharon Osbourne has teased a possible stint in politics after learning that a 60-year-old Muslim activist with a terrorism conviction is seeking a seat on Birmingham City Council in the upcoming local elections.
Shahid Butt received a five-year prison sentence from a Yemeni court in 1999 after being found guilty of conspiring to attack the British consulate in Aden, along with an Anglican church and a Swiss-owned hotel.
Sharon Osbourne has threatened to oppose Shahid Butt in Sparkhill
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Ms Osbourne, whose late husband Ozzy is beloved in Britain’s second city, learned of Mr Butt’s plans to run via a political commentator criticising the bid on Instagram.
In response, Ms Osbourne has said she may step up to oppose Mr Butt, pre-emptively dismissing any claims of racism from his supporters.
“This has nothing to do with racism. I think I’m gonna move to Birmingham and put my name down for the ballot to be on the council. I’m serious,” she wrote.
The comment garnered a flood of support from social media users critical of Mr Butt being allowed to run in light of his conviction.
“You’d have my vote if I were there. They are destroying Ozzy’s home, it’s disgraceful,” one Instagram user penned, while a second echoed: “Please!!! We will all support you! You are a brave woman! You got this, we got you!”
Elsewhere, a third urged: “Please do, Sharon. Gosh, it’s just unbelievable that someone like him can stand. It’s just so demoralising. What is this country coming to?”
Sharon Osbourne has suggested she may run in opposition to Shahid Butt
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Another similarly pleaded: “Please, for the love of God, let’s get back to normality. We are living where the left or the right don’t represent the normal working class of this country.”
“Come on, Sharon, they’re destroying Ozzy’s beloved home. Birmingham needs you!!” a fifth weighed in.
And a sixth suggested Ms Osbourne go one step further: “Any chance that you could just run for prime minister instead, I’m sure you would win no problem at all. We desperately need some strong leadership.” (sic)
Mr Butt has previously claimed to ITV News that the charge against him was “fabricated” and that he was “falsely convicted.”
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He maintains his innocence, asserting that his confession was obtained through torture and that evidence against him was planted.
Prior to his overseas conviction, Mr Butt had already served time in Birmingham prisons for violent offences committed during his youth.
He has stated that since his release, he has dedicated himself to campaigning against extremism.
The Independent Candidates Alliance, which Mr Butt represents, was established by activists Akhmed Yakoob and Shakeel Afsar.
Sharon’s husband Ozzy Osbourne died in July 2025
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PABoth founders stood unsuccessfully in Birmingham constituencies during the 2024 general election, campaigning on a pro-Gaza platform.
Mr Butt’s candidacy has drawn criticism following his conduct ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv last November.
In the lead-up to the match, he took to social media, urging Muslims from across Britain to travel to Birmingham in solidarity with Palestinians, describing the visiting supporters as “IDF babykillers” and warning against them “desecrating” the city.
Authorities ultimately prohibited Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the game, citing security concerns after large-scale demonstrations were planned.
He has acknowledged a violent history, attributing it to the racism he encountered growing up in Birmingham.
“As a kid, all I heard was, ‘F*** off back to where you came from’ and, ‘P***’, and I got angry and bitter,” he told the Birmingham Mail.
He has dismissed accusations of antisemitism, stating: “As a Muslim, I cannot be antisemitic – Jews are my cousins.”
Ms Osbourne is far from the only public figure to take issue with Mr Butt’s decision to run in the upcoming by-election. The People’s Channel’s very own Patrick Christys pulled no punches when he shared the news on his show this week.
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After reeling off Mr Butt’s history, Patrick said: “Anyway, to all the left-wing liberals out there, are you waking up yet?
“Can you see what’s going on here? Can you see what’s happening to our country? All the left-wing parties, they say ‘Reform is the biggest threat to Britain’. Look at what I’ve just shown you. Are you mental?!”