Sharon Osbourne has been directly challenged after expressing interest in running against a convicted terrorist who is standing for election in Birmingham. The television personality and music manager made headlines when she commented on social media about Shahid Butt's candidacy for local councillor in Sparkhill.
Controversial Candidate with a Criminal Past
Shahid Butt, who is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming May local elections, has a controversial history that has sparked significant backlash. In 1999, Butt was convicted in Yemen for his involvement in a terror plot that included associating with armed groups, plotting murder and destruction, and possessing weapons.
He was part of a gang of ten men linked to an Islamist group known for kidnapping sixteen westerners, four of whom were killed during a rescue mission. The alleged targets in Yemen included the British consulate, a church, and a hotel.
Butt's Defence and Response to Criticism
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Butt addressed the controversy surrounding his candidacy, stating: 'My actual charge was being a member of an armed gang and conspiring to commit violence, not terrorism as such. The whole thing was about conspiring... nobody actually died, nothing happened at all.'
He further claimed that evidence against him had been 'planted' and that his confession was extracted through torture. Despite his conviction, Butt maintains his innocence and has positioned himself as a reformed individual who now campaigns against extremism.
Osbourne's Political Aspirations
The controversy gained national attention when Sharon Osbourne responded to a video about Butt shared by Richard Donaldson, founder of Great British National Protest. On Instagram, Osbourne commented: 'This has nothing to do with racism. I think I'm gonna move to Birmingham and put my name down for the ballot to be on the council.'
Her post received nearly 2,800 likes, and she later added: 'I'm serious,' indicating genuine interest in challenging Butt's candidacy.
Butt's Confident Response
In an interview with SWNS, Butt responded to Osbourne's potential challenge, welcoming her willingness to run but confidently stating she 'wouldn't win.' He emphasised his lifelong connection to Sparkhill, saying: 'I have lived in Sparkhill all my life and see all the issues going on within the area. I wanted to make a change.'
Butt described himself as a community activist and addressed his critics directly: 'The best way to answer the haters is by doing good actions. If I'm elected, you will see the difference I will make and I will prove everybody wrong.'
Political Context and Support
Butt is being supported by Akhmed Yakoob, founder of the Independent Candidate Alliance. Yakoob previously ran against current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency, losing by only 3,000 votes. However, Yakoob now faces legal challenges himself, having been charged with money laundering and set to go on trial next year.
The video that prompted Osbourne's response was shared by Richard Donaldson, an ex-British Army soldier turned far-right campaigner. Donaldson raised over £30,000 last year to fund an anti-migrant movement calling for protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers. His video about Butt was captioned: 'Convicted TERRORIST who plotted to bomb British buildings is set to run in Birmingham's May elections. Let that sink in!'
Personal Background and Recent Developments
Now sixty years old, Butt claims to have transformed since his release from prison in 2003, becoming a campaigner against extremism. He told the Birmingham Mail that he supports calls to stop small boat crossings in the Channel, stating: 'I also don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry coming over and living in our communities when we don't know who they are. That is not being racist, that is being a good British citizen.'
Sharon Osbourne's potential political involvement comes during a period of personal transition. Her husband, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, died in July last year at age seventy-six, four years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. During an emotional appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored in December, Osbourne described her husband's final moments and her ongoing grief process.
She revealed: 'Grief has now become my friend. It is very weird to me, when you love someone that much and you're grieving for them, it's what I have to live with... I would have just gone with Ozzy. I've done everything I wanted to do. But they've (her children) been unbelievably, just magnificent with me.'
Election Implications
The potential showdown between Sharon Osbourne and Shahid Butt highlights the complex dynamics of local politics in Birmingham. With the May elections approaching, this contest has drawn national attention to issues of criminal rehabilitation, political eligibility, and community representation.
Butt's candidacy raises questions about whether individuals with serious criminal convictions should be allowed to stand for public office, while Osbourne's potential involvement brings celebrity influence into local political contests. The outcome could have significant implications for how similar cases are handled in future elections across the United Kingdom.
