Former Taxi Driver Becomes Manchester's Lord Mayor

Shaukat Ali’s life journey has attracted the attention of the British public. The man who once worked as a taxi driver in Manchester has been officially sworn in as the 128th Lord Mayor of Manchester.

According to BBC International, on Saturday 23 May 2026, Ali was sworn in at an official ceremony on Wednesday local time. He described the moment as a very emotional day in his life.

The father of four was born in Pakistan in 1965 and grew up in the village of Batli, Kashmir. At the age of 16, he moved to Manchester to start a new life.

Before entering politics, Ali worked in various industries. He spent time in the textile sector, ran a furniture business, and even opened a small food venture.

Moreover, Ali worked as a licensed taxi driver in Manchester for several years while learning English at night. He subsequently continued his education and earned an Information Technology diploma from City College Manchester.

His political career began after being elected to the city council in 2012. For more than a decade, Ali served on a range of important committees, from city planning and highways to environmental services and the oversight of children’s services.

In his role as Lord Mayor, Ali said he would focus on supporting children within social services and on strengthening community cohesion across Manchester. In his inaugural speech as Lord Mayor, Ali described Manchester as a city built on diversity and fairness.

‘Manchester is a city where people from different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and religions live side by side,’ he said.

The father of four also said Manchester has changed his life. ‘Manchester has given me all that I have today,’ he said.

Ali’s inauguration also marked the end of the tenure of the previous Lord Mayor, Carmine Grimshaw. In his farewell speech, Grimshaw said the experience of becoming Lord Mayor made him realise that Manchester’s strength lies in its communities. ‘It has been an honour to serve this extraordinary city, and an even greater honour for me to learn from the people who give it life. Thank you, Manchester residents,’ he said.

Meanwhile, council member Pat Karney praised Grimshaw’s track record during his tenure, noting that Grimshaw attended around 500 official events and visited every part of Manchester. Similar praise also came from Liberal Democrat politician John Leech, who said Grimshaw would be missed by all councillors.