Former Walsall councillor wins landmark discrimination ruling against party he used to represent

After an eight-day trial in November and December 2025, His Honour Judge Tindal has now found in favour of Mr Arif.

The ruling says he was the victim of unlawful discrimination and victimisation on the basis of his Pakistani heritage and Muslim beliefs.

Mr Arif is a former Conservative councillor for St Matthew’s and was a cabinet member at Walsall Council between 2007-16 as well as a West Midlands police and crime commissioner panel member.

In a detailed 150-page judgment, the court found Mr Arif had been discriminated against or victimised in 13 different respects by officers of the former Walsall Conservative Federation between 2015 and 2018.

The court found Mr Arif’s Muslim faith had been “weaponised” against him in a decision not to select him as a local election candidate and the federation had victimised him in expelling and then re-expelling him from both the federation and the Conservative Party.

Judge Tindal named current Walsall councillor for Streetly and chair of the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel Suky Samra as lead defendant for the officers and members of the executive council during the period in question.

The judgment said he had taken the unusual step of publishing his judgment as he could find no previous reported case “addressing victimisation in the context of political parties”.

Speaking after the judgement, Mr Arif said: “It has been tough 10-year battle, and I am glad for mine and my family’s health that it is now over.

“This fight was not for me alone but for all people in politics across all parties. Strong principles come at a price but there are still people in politics who will stand up and fight for them.

“I hope now the people at Conservative central headquarters wake up and take strong action against those who victimised and discriminated against me.

“We raised these issues time and again, but despite three investigations organised by the party it has taken no action.

“This proves the belief of many Muslims of Pakistani or British origin in the Conservative Party that Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims is tolerated.”

The Walsall Conservative Federation was dissolved in 2023 following boundary changes.

Councillor Suky Samra, for the Walsall and Bloxwich Association, said: “The background stems from 2011, when the central party intervened in a ‘dysfunctional’ local structure that was controlled by councillors, Mr Arif being one of them.

“He later brought legal action in 2019 against the Conservative Party in London and the Federation, the central party settled with him in 2021.

“Although partially successful, most of his claims - including financial losses and procedural unfairness - were rejected by Judge Tindal An appeal on the grounds of these unsuccessful aspects of the judgment is now under consideration.

“The federation maintains it always acted on Conservative party guidance throughout - regional officers chaired meetings and the rebuilding the local party was successful.

“It should be noted the federation was made of unpaid volunteers, multiple individuals of all faiths attended different meetings involving Mohammed Arif, and no one individual made any decision.”

The Conservative Party central office has been contacted for comment.