In a historic moment, the city of Preston has elected Yakub Patel, a Gujarat-born Muslim as Mayor for the 2023-24 term. Patel assumes the position after the completion of Councillor Neil Darby’s term in office, bringing a fresh perspective to the role.
As the newly appointed Mayor, Patel will preside over council meetings and serve as the ceremonial representative of the city at various engagements throughout the year. Expressing his gratitude, Patel stated, “I am honored and delighted to become the Mayor of Preston, a city I am proud to call my home. I hope to make positive differences to the communities that I serve and also provide additional support through my Mayoral charities for the coming year.”
Prior to his current position, Patel served as the Deputy Mayor of Preston since May 2022.
Preston’s outgoing Mayor, Neil Darby, conveyed his pleasure in passing on the chains of office to Mayor-elect Councillor Yakub Patel. In a tweet, he expressed, “…It gives me great pleasure to be handing over the chains of office to the Mayor-elect, Councillor Yakub Patel. The last year has been the most outstanding experience of my life, and it has been a huge honor to have been the Mayor of our fabulous city.”
Born in Bharuch, Gujarat, Patel completed his BA and MA degrees in English Literature at M S University of Baroda. He arrived in the UK in June 1976 and embarked on his career with Preston Corporation in 1979. Throughout his professional journey, Patel held various roles, including Revenue Inspector, Traffic Inspector, Assistant Chief, Chief Inspector, and Operations Manager until his retirement on July 4, 2009.
He was first elected as a Labour Party councillor for Avenham Ward in 1995, becoming the first Muslim councillor in the history of Preston City Council. Furthermore, Patel served as a Lancashire County Councillor for Preston West Division from 2001 to 2009.
Beyond his political involvement, Patel is an esteemed member of the local community. He serves as a co-opted member for Preston Jamea Mosque and Preston Muslim Burial Society and acts as a school governor for Frenchwood Community Primary School. Patel’s Mayoral Charities for 2023-24 will be Rosemere Cancer, Preston Domestic Violence Services, and Emmaus.
