A Muslim British-Pakistani politician has been elected as the next Ealing UKIP chairman.
Afzal Akram, 46, was elected at UKIP’s annual general meeting at The Grange Pub in Ealing Common on Tuesday (September 30), after the previous leader Lewis Loxton stepped down due to work commitments.
Mr Lewis, who said the new chairman was ‘the right guy’ for the job, keeps his role as campaign manager.
Mr Akram, of Ealing, has eight years experience in politics after being an east London councillor and cabinet member for community safety, enforcement and protection for four years and then for corporate finance and resources for two years.
He said this experience made him think he could take the UKIP branch forward and make it grow.
Mr Akram, who joined UKIP about three months ago after becoming ‘disenchanted’ as a Labour member, said: “What enticed me to UKIP was that they are willing to listen.
“I have experience in education and business as I have been a governor of a further education college for 10 years- Waltham Forest College in north-east London and was deputy chairman on the learning and skills council for the north London area which used to be in charge of funding all further education.
“I saw an opportunity to help influence the setting up of their new policies which they have just launched.”
The new chairman added: “People have said to me ‘it’s a racist party why are you joining’.
“I do not see it as a racist party. Not once have I been made to feel that I was looked at badly, I have not experienced it and if I do see or experience it I would expect UKIP to take action.
“Just because UKIP is prepared to talk about immigration does not make the party racist.”
Mr Akram said racism occurs in everyday life in all parties and that he does not believe it is particular organisations which are racist, but perhaps individuals may be racist within those groups.
He said he believes parties should have policies in place and take swift action when racism occurs.
The politician is currently starting his own business called the Smile Group of Businesses, a cluster of start-ups of which he is chairman and CEO.
His aim within his role as UKIP chair is to encourage its membership and work closely with constituents, providing them with information and opportunities to share their views, to campaign with the UKIP message and policies across the borough.
