Javaid Akhtar: A trailblazer on Leeds's political scene

David Spereall, Local Democracy Reporter
By David Spereall, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 25th Aug 2022, 11:26 BST
Updated 16th Sep 2022, 11:44 BST
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Javaid Akhtar is something of a trailblazer when it comes to Leeds’ political scene.

He became one of the city’s youngest ever representatives when he was elected at the age of 25 as a Labour councillor for the Harehills ward in 1995.

Christened the ‘baby of the council’ by a local newspaper at the time, he’s kept the article to this day.

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Since then he has held seats for both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, variously representing Gipton and Harehills, Hyde Park and Woodhouse, and now Little London and Woodhouse.

Coun Javaid Akhtar pictured alongside Gerry Harper and Kayleigh Brooks at the local election vote count at First Direct Arena in May 2018.Coun Javaid Akhtar pictured alongside Gerry Harper and Kayleigh Brooks at the local election vote count at First Direct Arena in May 2018.
Coun Javaid Akhtar pictured alongside Gerry Harper and Kayleigh Brooks at the local election vote count at First Direct Arena in May 2018.

Those changes in affiliation and the wards represented came about after losing elections in 1998, 2002 and 2007, but he has served as a Labour councillor continuously since his re-election in 2010.