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The political landscape of West London has been permanently shifted this week as the Hounslow Labour Group descends into what insiders are calling a terminal tailspin. The administration, led by Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, is reeling from a high-profile defection, a wave of resignations, and a series of sordid scandals that have left the borough’s leadership appearing both distracted and deeply divided.
The most significant blow landed on Wednesday when Councillor Karamat Malik, representing the Heston West ward, sensationally crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party. His departure follows the recent exit of Councillor Vickram Grewal, marking a trend of veteran figures fleeing a party they claim has lost its moral compass. Over the last few months, no fewer than five members have resigned, citing a toxic internal culture and the prioritization of party optics over the needs of residents.
Councillor Malik did not hold back in his assessment of his former colleagues, accusing the Labour leadership of driving the community toward a financial precipice. He highlighted the disastrous handling of the national Budget alongside local concerns regarding the Lampton Group, the council’s wholly-owned subsidiary. Malik argued that the Hounslow Labour Group has become so preoccupied with shielding senior members from scandal that they have abandoned their duty to the electorate. He stated that he could no longer defend the increasingly indefensible conduct of certain senior councillors.
In response, Hounslow Labour attempted to frame the defection as political opportunism, suggesting Malik’s move was a reaction to his recent deselection for the 2026 local elections. A party spokesperson dismissed the move as a sign of the Conservative Party’s lower standards. However, the Conservative Deputy Leader, Councillor Gabriella Giles, welcomed Malik with open arms, praising his principled stand against what she termed Labour’s economic mismanagement.
The internal hemorrhaging is not limited to defections. Just twenty-four hours before Malik’s exit, Councillor Aftab Siddiqui resigned from his prestigious post as Deputy Chair of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee. In a blistering open letter to Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat, Siddiqui alleged that a small clique of councillors has effectively captured the council to serve familial and private interests. His letter paints a picture of a secretive regime where transparency is non-existent and where the selection of candidates for the 2026 elections is based on family ties rather than merit or service to the borough.
Perhaps most damaging to the party’s public image is the ongoing fallout from the Councillor Hina Mir scandal. Mir was recently suspended after it was revealed she had employed an illegal worker at her home, paying them below the national minimum wage. Despite a County Court ruling against her in January 2025, she was remarkably reselected for the 2026 elections four months later. While Councillor Rajawat claims he was unaware of the court’s decision at the time of her reselection, the timeline has led to accusations of gross negligence or a deliberate cover-up within the leadership.
The optics for the party have worsened with reports of blatant entitlement among its ranks. Councillor Mir was recently caught parking her luxury BMW in a disabled bay at the council offices, an incident that occurred just days after Councillor Farhaan Rehman was forced to apologize for parking a Lamborghini in a similar restricted space. Rehman subsequently resigned his role as Chair of the Licensing Committee, while also facing scrutiny over undeclared directorships.
The growing disconnect between the council and the community has sparked a wider debate about the nature of local governance in Hounslow. Local resident Ryan Ali, speaking to Daily Dazzling Dawn, reflected on a lost era of accountability. He noted that councillors are meant to be dedicated to supporting local communities in a responsible manner, recalling that until 2012, cabinet meetings began with a prayer and Biblical dedication to remind attendees of their heavy responsibilities.
This sentiment of frustration is shared by many who feel the current party-political system is failing the borough. Resident Malcolm Roberts argued that it is high time political affiliations were banned from local government entirely. He suggested that councillors should be independent and politically neutral, focused solely on the delivery of essential services rather than the internal power struggles currently paralyzing the Town Hall.
As the 2026 elections loom, the Hounslow Labour Group finds itself fighting a war on two fronts: defending its dwindling majority against a resurgent Conservative opposition and attempting to purge the allegations of nepotism and sleaze that have become synonymous with its current administration. With more resignations rumored to be on the horizon, the question is no longer if the party will change, but if it can survive its own internal rot.
