Former taxi driver becomes new Lord Mayor of Manchester
Councillor Shaukat Ali became the 128th Lord Mayor of Manchester at a ceremony on Wednesday.
www.bbc.co.ukHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reports.
- Shaukat Ali has been sworn in as the 128th Lord Mayor of Manchester, with the swearing-in taking place around May 19–20, 2026. The ceremony marks his formal assumption of the ceremonial role for Manchester.[1][5]
- As Lord Mayor, he serves as a ceremonial figurehead and chair of council meetings, focusing on representation, community engagement, and fundraising for local causes, rather than setting policy.[2][5]
- Ali is a long-time Manchester councillor for Cheetham, first elected in 2012, and previously served as Deputy Lord Mayor before taking the top civic role.[3][4]
If you’d like, I can pull more details on his stated priorities during his year as Lord Mayor or provide a quick bio summary suitable for a briefing. Also, I can check for any major events or appearances announced by the Lord Mayor’s office in the coming weeks.