Mayor of Luton

Councillor Tahmina Saleem

Councillor Tahmina Saleem heralds from the land of the luddites- the handsome Huddersfield nestled in the Pennines, like many of Luton's residents she was born outside of Bedfordshire which in her case was Sheffield, she is 'made in Sheffield.'

She excelled in art at school and was at the age of sixteen head hunted and offered an apprenticeship at Cosgrove Hall Ltd (Danger Mouse), which she turned down horrified by the prospect of parental disapproval, opting instead to study Law.

On graduating and discovering that she was far too empathetic for criminal law (her only preference in that field). She worked at the University of Huddersfield co-authoring ‘Kirklees Young Carers’ with Professor Eric Blythe (Senior Social Research lecturer). The report spearheaded the launch of the Kirklees Young Carers project and continues to today, of which she professes she is proud.

Following the Manningham Riots in Bradford in the mid 90’s she designed and delivered training to the Bradford, West Yorkshire police workforce for which she received a good citizenship award. Tahmina was too busy being an activist to receive it, so her mother and sister fulfilled that honour.

She moved to East London in 1998 simultaneously embarking on multitudinous parallel voluntary and career paths. To name a few: New Deal Project Manager Hackney, Media Officer MCB, Project Manager Community Safety Team Redbridge, National Chair Islam Awareness Week, Rumi’s Tales artist Trends magazine, Editor Limelight magazine Luton Culture, Cofounder of a women’s human rights consultancy and marketing for Marie Curie.

Tahmina arrived in Luton in 2007 with her young family having been priced out of London, the youngest at the time being just two weeks old, she worked in Redbridge and found it a pleasant commute.

Witnessing growing inequalities under the Conservative government she ceased shouting at the radio to stand as a councillor. In 2019 she became a Round Green councillor, today she represents Biscot.

A dedicated serial volunteer since the age of nineteen when she offered free legal advice through her University’s Free Representation Unit. At present she dabbles in Keep Luton Tidy, Edible Luton, Neighbourhood Watch and supports the innovative Biscot Peace and Wellbeing Hub.

She speaks Urdu in her own unique way and her Arabic recitation can be quite good. She enjoys gardening and reading in her spare time of which sadly she says she has very little.

Tahmina was appointed Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services at LBC from May 2021 to May 2024. As the ‘voice of the child,’ she was legally responsible for the oversight of over 200 statutory duties relating to children and young people, covering education, well-being and social care.

Tahmina describes childhood as the spine of a book to which every day of our adult lives is attached like a page. “Our childhoods are connected to our adult lives, a hurt child leads to a hurt adult, therefore every childhood deserves to be preciously protected.”

She states the role has been an honour with too many positive memories of our children and young people and their achievements to recount, adding the team are second to none and every social worker she has had the pleasure to encounter has been inspirational. Whilst sad to be moving on she looks back with pride and joy at what has been achieved over the past three years.

Tahmina is looking forward to the role of mayoralty, but much more than the ceremonial aspects she’s looking forward to meeting the no nonsense, let’s get it done, salt of the earth types that make up Luton and remind her of her own Northern roots.

Councillor Ajisola Babatunde

I am a proud lutonian, having moved to Luton 18 years ago, it has been home to me and my family. I am happily married and a dad to three children who were all born in Luton.

I am an IT Consultant and I have worked across the private and public sectors. I have volunteered in several sectors across Luton and I was selected to be an Olympic torch bearer before the Commencement of the London 2012 Olympics games when it came to Luton Town. I am a football fan and football refereeing is one of the hobbies I enjoy. I am a registered football referee in the county.

I studied for my BSc degree at the Lagos State University (LASU) in Mechanical Engineering and MSc at the University of Bedfordshire, Luton where I studied Applied Computing and Information Technology. I was a student union Leader while in the School and I was elected as a member student parliamentary/Representatives council.

I am passionate about improving my town and giving back to the community. Also, bringing governance closer to the people as much as possible. I serve in multiple committees putting the interests of lutonians to the fore and I am the Secretary of the Luton Borough Labour group.

It was a great honour to be elected as a councillor representing Northwell ward and even greater honour now to be put forward by my colleagues to be Deputy Mayor for the year 2024 to 2025.