Bradford gets UK's first Muslim woman lord mayor

Bradford has made history in the UK with the appointment of the first Muslim woman Lord Mayor. Naveeda Ikram, a local councillor for the Little Horton area since 2004, was installed at a ceremony at Bradford City Hall recently.

Mrs Ikram, a psychology and sociology graduate, has served as Deputy Mayor of Bradford since 2009. She was also the first woman of Pakistani origin to become a councillor in Bradford and in 2007 was one of only two Bradford councillors picked to take part in a national course designed to identify future leaders.

Mrs Ikram is the co-founder of Bradford Unites in Disaster, an umbrella organisation representing fundraising groups across the district and a governor at Newby and Bankfoot primary schools in Bradford.

Commenting on her new appointment Mrs Ikram said:

"I am looking forward to being a positive and active ambassador for this wonderful district. I'm keen to see more participation and better confidence from all communities in the democratic process."

Mrs Ikram said community cohesion in Bradford would be an important focus during her time in office.