Committee to consider 126 complaints from public over Luton councillors' lockdown breach

Proceedings against ex-mayor Tahir Malik, and party colleagues Waheed Akbar and Asif Masood are underway, a meeting of the local authority’s standards committee heard.

The local assessment panel is due to meet on Thursday to decide whether the trio will face disciplinary proceedings after 126 complaints were received.

The panel is a sub-committee of the council's standards committee, which has overall responsibility for the behaviour and conduct of councillors.

The three councillors were seen to be socialising at a party in Luton, in breach of Covid-19 lockdown rules.

They issued a public apology after attending the large gathering in the town, without wearing face masks or social distancing.

Councillor Malik resigned as mayor last week but retains his position as a councillor. He was pictured at the party with a face mask under his chin.

The public response was described as “an unprecedented number of complaints” by the council's monitoring officer.