Newcastle's first non-white lord mayor to step down from city council after 16 yearsHabib Rahman, who became Newcastle's first non-white lord mayor in the top civic post's 800-year history in 2021, is stepping down after 16 years as a councillor for ElswickView Image Habib Rahman, councillor for Elswick (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)A prominent former lord mayor of Newcastle has announced he will step back from city politics at May’s local elections. ‌In 2021, Coun Rahman became the city’s first non-white lord mayor in the 800-year history of the role. ‌Coun Rahman, who moved to Newcastle from Bangladesh in 1985 at the age of 12, has been a vocal campaigner against racism on Tyneside for years. ‌Announcing his impending departure from the council, Coun Rahman said: “Serving the community I have lived in all my life has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Coun Rahman said: “Leaving elected office does not mean leaving public service.

Source: Daily Mirror March 06, 2026 07:06 UTC