Khalid Mahmood

Khalid Mahmood (born 13 July 1961) has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham, Perry Barr since 2001.

Political career
Mahmood is a graduate of UCE Birmingham and a former engineer with a trade union background. He was a Birmingham City Councillor from 1990 to 1992. In 2001, Mahmood was selected for the Perry Barr seat by local Labour party members.

Although Mahmood held the seat for Labour in the 2001 election, his share of the vote fell by 16.5%, much of which went to the Liberal Democrat candidate Jon Hunt. Mahmood subsequently increased his share of the vote slightly at the 2005 election, though his majority fell by 805 votes. He was again elected in 2010.

He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Office Minister Tony McNulty from 10 November 2005 until 6 September 2006, when he resigned after signing a letter calling for Prime Minister Tony Blair to step down.

Mahmood opposed the decision by Birmingham College in 2013 to ban students wearing veils. "I am seriously concerned that the college has taken this approach," Mahmood told The Huffington Post. "I see no reason why young women should not be able to practice their faith and wear what is appropriate for their religion, [...] It is about freedom to protect your rights. The college should demonstrate and encourage respect of belief, colour and background. [The decision] is not an example to set to students."