The leader of Hounslow Council has stated he was completely unaware that one of his senior councillors had been found by a court to have employed an illegal worker in her home, a ruling that resulted in a substantial £40,000 fine.
Court ruling and political fallout
In January 2025, the City of London County Court ruled against Councillor Hina Mir, who represents Feltham West, for employing a woman as a nanny who did not have permission to work in the UK. The court also found that Mir paid the worker below the national minimum wage. The councillor was subsequently fined £40,000, a penalty she unsuccessfully attempted to overturn in early December.
The case came to public attention following the failed appeal, prompting Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat to insist that neither he nor the Hounslow Labour group had prior knowledge of the January ruling. This claim has been contested by a source within the local party, who asserts senior figures were aware.
When questioned by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about how journalists knew of the case while the Labour group did not, Cllr Rajawat explained the party relies on self-referral. "We're a large group," he said. "With the best will in the world, as much as I'd love to sit there and search through court papers and stuff, it's just not possible for us to do."
Discrepancy in disciplinary action
Following the December court decision, the Labour Party suspended Cllr Mir on December 9. However, she remains a serving councillor and retains her position as Chair of the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel, a role that comes with an annual special responsibility allowance of £7,089.
This has raised questions about consistency, as fellow Labour councillor Farhaan Rehman was effectively forced to resign as Chair of the Licensing Committee earlier this year after it was revealed he parked a Lamborghini in a disabled bay without a blue badge.
Cllr Rajawat attributed the difference to a technicality in how the roles are appointed. He stated that while he appointed Cllr Rehman, scrutiny chairs like Cllr Mir are elected by the full council and are considered independent of the executive.
Further controversy over disabled parking
Adding to the controversy, it was revealed that Cllr Mir had also parked in a disabled bay without a permit, just days after the LDRS exposed Cllr Rehman for the same offence. While Cllr Rehman issued a public apology and made a voluntary £160 charity donation, Cllr Mir has not publicly apologised.
Cllr Rajawat confirmed that Cllr Mir is also set to make a £160 charitable donation. In Hounslow, parking in a disabled bay without a valid badge typically incurs a £160 penalty for members of the public.
Cllr Mir has not been convicted of a criminal offence relating to the employment case and did not respond to requests for comment. A Hounslow Labour spokesperson confirmed the suspension but declined to comment on any internal investigation.
