A Labour councillor who was pictured dining with convicted crack cocaine and heroin dealers has been suspended after his conviction for a 'brutal' pickaxe attack emerged.
Mohsin Hussain, a district councillor for Keighley Central in Bradford, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, for his involvement in an armed street attack in 2014 which left a man with bruising to his head, upper body and legs.
Cllr Hussain, then 19, used a pickaxe handle during the attack, which he has 'taken full responsibility for'.
In 2023, he was pictured dining at a restaurant alongside three convicted crack-cocaine, heroin and cannabis dealers.
He was suspended from the party on Wednesday when his criminal past was pointed out to Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions.
Tory MP Robbie Moore asked whether Cllr Hussain should be allowed to stand in May's council elections.
The Keighley and Ilkley MP said: 'In 2014, a man in my constituency was ambushed, violently beaten with a pickaxe handle and left lying in the street with serious injuries. At the time of the conviction, the judge called it a brutal attack.
'Mr Speaker, many constituents have contacted me to express their concern that the perpetrator of this attack is still a sitting a Labour councillor in Keighley, and was recently pictured celebrating an election alongside individuals convicted of dealing crack cocaine and heroin.
Mohsin Hussain, a district councillor for Keighley Central in Bradford, has been suspended after his criminal past emerged
In 2023, Cllr Hussain (first on right) was pictured dining at a restaurant alongside three convicted crack-cocaine, heroin and cannabis dealers
'Prime Minister, on behalf of all victims of serious crime, will you, as Leader of the Labour Party, ensure that Councillor Mohsin Hussain is not permitted to stand in the local elections this May?'
In response, Sir Keir said: 'I thank him for raising this. I will look into it straight away and give him a full answer.'
He has now been suspended pending an investigation.
A Labour spokesperson said: 'These are serious allegations. The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures.'
Cllr Hussain told the Daily Mail his suspension was 'very disappointing'.
He said: 'I've always been open and transparent since I became a councillor in 2021. I made a mistake which I deeply regret and it is something which Labour has been aware of.
'I've worked very hard to reform and turn my life around.'
He also said he was 'disappointed' with Mr Moore for raising his past in Parliament, accusing him of 'focusing on this now because we have elections coming up'.
He added: 'The local MP has repeatedly mentioned it and he does this at every election.
On Wednesday, Tory MP Robbie Moore asked whether Hussain should be allowed to stand in May's council elections
'It is a vile and disgusting attack. He isn’t bringing anything new. He needs to focus on the real issues an MP should be addressing.'
The Telegraph and Argus reported the photo of Cllr Hussain with the drug dealers was snapped in 2023.
Asked about being pictured with drug dealers, he claimed he has 'no association' with the criminals and he is not able to 'control who attends' dinners.
He said: 'I was invited to the restaurant. They were on the other side of the table. I can't vet every single attendee. I've always condemned drugs and worked hard within the community.'
