Sharon Osbourne Considers Political Challenge Against Convicted Terror Plotter in Birmingham
Television personality Sharon Osbourne has publicly declared she is seriously considering a political run in Birmingham after discovering a convicted terrorist is standing for election in the city's upcoming local council vote.
Controversial Candidate with Terror Conviction
The controversy centres on Shahid Butt, who is running as an independent candidate to become a local councillor in Sparkhill during the May local elections. In 1999, Butt was imprisoned in Yemen for his involvement in a terror plot that included associating with armed groups, plotting murder and destruction, and possessing weapons.
He was convicted as part of a ten-man gang linked to an Islamist group known for kidnapping sixteen westerners, four of whom died during a rescue mission. Alleged targets in Yemen included the British consulate, a church, and a hotel.
Butt's Defence and Osbourne's Response
Following significant backlash to his candidacy announcement, Butt told BirminghamLive: '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: 'It was all just made up... the weapons were all planted.' The sixty-year-old maintains his confession was extracted through torture and that evidence against him was fabricated.
Sharon Osbourne entered the debate after watching a video about Butt shared on social media by Richard Donaldson, founder of Great British National Protest. On Instagram, she 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 statement has garnered nearly 2,800 likes, and she later emphasised: 'I'm serious.'
Political Context and Supporting Figures
Richard Donaldson, an ex-British Army soldier turned far-right campaigner, captioned his video: 'Convicted TERRORIST who plotted to bomb British buildings is set to run in Birmingham's May elections. Let that sink in!' In the clip, he declared Butt's election 'cannot happen' and urged viewers to share the content, suggesting those unwilling were 'part of the problem.'
Last year, Donaldson raised over £30,000 to fund an anti-migrant movement advocating protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers until deportations occur.
Butt is being supported by Akhmed Yakoob, founder of the Independent Candidate Alliance. Yakoob previously contested the Birmingham Ladywood parliamentary seat against current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, losing by just 3,000 votes. He now faces money laundering charges with a trial scheduled next year.
Butt's Post-Prison Activism and Personal Background
Since his release from prison in 2003, Butt has become a campaigner against extremism. He told the Birmingham Mail he supported efforts to stop Channel crossings, 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.'
He admitted to 'making mistakes' in his youth but maintains his innocence despite the conviction.
Osbourne's Personal Circumstances
Sharon Osbourne's potential political move comes months after the death of her husband, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away aged seventy-six in July following a heart attack. During a December appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, she described his final moments, revealing she knew instantly he had died.
She spoke candidly about her grief, saying: '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... It's an ache that you wake up with and you can't get rid of that ache.'
Osbourne admitted she would have 'just gone with Ozzy' if not for her children, praising Kelly, Aimee, and Jack for their support during this difficult period.
The political landscape in Birmingham continues to develop as election day approaches, with this unexpected development adding significant national attention to the local council race.
