Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the Sheffield Star site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Driving ban starts for Lord Ahmed before sentencing



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 02 December 2008
LABOUR peer Lord Ahmed has been handed a temporary driving ban until he is fully sentenced in three weeks.
He will be automatically disqualified from driving at his full sentencing hearing.

The disgraced politician, who was appointed to the House of Lords in 1998 and became the first Muslim peer of modern times, refused to comment but his solicitor Steve Smith spoke of the unpaid work he does.

He told how the peer's forthright views had even led to a fatwa death threat being issued against him.

Lord Ahmed, a former Rotherham councillor who became one of Tony Blair's first "people's peers" to represent the views of ordinary people, does not shy away from expressing often controversial views.

He has called for cuts on the number of immigrants because of the pressures placed on public services.

He has also spoken out against Muslim women wearing the niqab covering their faces, claiming it is barrier against integration.

He also condemned a plan to lock up terror suspects for 42 days without charge as an "outrageous proposal", saying it would "play into the hands of extremist groups" and "increase anti-Muslim feelings".

A fatwa was issued against Lord Ahmed after he spoke out about terrorism and the war with Iraq.

Mr Smith said: "He is the voice of reason in difficult times. He is a man who because of his forthright views on terrorism and violence has been outspoken and been the subject of a fatwa.

"He is a man who gives so much for his local community. He is not salaried in his position as a peer.

"The awards he has been given for his humanitarian work have been heralded worldwide."

Text peer faces jail




READ MORE

Main news index
Your letters.
Features
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic section
Latest sport.

The full article contains 332 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 02 December 2008 10:13 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
Prev
1
Next
1

all seeing eye,

02/12/2008 08:36:51
Son what? He is a no better than anyone else who is stupid enough to use a phone, let alone text, whilst driving. He should be jailed and his peerage removed. He has lost all of any credibility he had. A man i dead because of his behaviour despite his solicitors carefully phrased words. Will the judge bottle it? You bet.
2

Debbie_H,

02/12/2008 13:52:36
Of course he wont go to jail, he;s a peer and a prat i might add, txting while driving is AGAINST THE LAW and he caused someones death.long txt's while driving in the dark........ it;s a accident waiting to happen.
But he will get a smack on the hand and told not to do it again, my guess is a 6 month ban and thats it, He will probably get someone to drive for him for that 6 months at taxpayers expense too.
3

Debbie_H,

02/12/2008 14:13:18
Hell i think we should cut back on immagration, i also think women shouldnt wear the niqab.Can i get a get out of jail free card too please?
4

all seeing eye,

02/12/2008 14:52:14
He could cut down the number of immigrants and set an example to others in the process. LEAVE the country "Lord" Ahmed. Bye, bye, you will not be missed.
5

saxon boy,

02/12/2008 18:41:11
What the hell has his forthright views on immigration, terrorism etc. or the fact that he has a fatwa issued against him got to do with causing the death of someone by recklessly texting whilst driving? He should be locked up, no question! He wont be though, will he?
6

Matloub,

Sheffield 02/12/2008 21:58:48
Lord Nazir Ahmed, from Rotherham was apparently on his mobile phone minutes before M1 death crash. Reminded of being ticked off for attempting to answer a mobile call around two years ago – whilst stuck in a traffic jam – which I think the police officer was in his rights to tick me off for. But what I found unacceptable was the derogatory and "colourful language" he used against me. As a community activist & nowadays also a free-lance carer/journalist - it is not worth repeating what abusive words were used. However, I must congratulate for our local police force for being very helpful and on the ball, this morning after the 'black ice nightmare' reminded me of the scene of the floods in June 2007 - the only difference being the cars had slid & shunted. All the same, the cars were abandoned just like the floods. Interestingly, I mentioned to my fellow community journalist colleagues in the last five lines of my post on the editorial forum/blog: "...Did the council grit Lorries go out last night on main roads (which I think they did) does anyone else have any other information & stories of this nightmare morning? I am sure the Sheffield Star headlines will give us an indication of what happened this morning - if they don't have another more important sensation for their front cover - today..." Unfortunately, another more important story was in the offing. Was I somewhere else or the road conditions were really treacherous? Yes, another headline/story was in the pipe-line not the ‘bad weather’ story is it bad news? Well, is texting whilst driving is (positive) good NO? Bad weather conditions whilst driving is (negative) bad YES? It is all about priorities & fair reporting and not about headline grabbing for the sake of increasing readership. As I write, some GOOD news that: six men have been arrested on suspicion of murder teenager, Tarek Chaiboub, in Burngreave/Pitsmoor. It is obviously, a step in the right direction by the police to solve this heinous crime. Mat
7

ex-pat lad,

abroad 03/12/2008 00:39:31
Matloud,is it a slow news day or something? why are you putting your column up on here?
Prev
1
Next

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
 
  

 
 


Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.