Councillor Chaman Lal is the first Lord Mayor of Birmingham, from a British Indian Sikh background

Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor, Cllr Chaman Lal, has taken the office of First Citizen after a Mayor Making ceremony during the council’s Annual General Meeting yesterday (23 May 2023).

Cllr Lal is the first British Indian, from a Sikh family, to become the city’s Lord Mayor. He was born in the village Pakhowal, in Hoshiar Pur district, in Punjab, India.

He came to Birmingham with his mother in 1964, and has lived in the city ever since – so considers himself to be a true ‘Brummie’.

First elected to Soho and Jewellery Quarter ward in 1994, Cllr Lal has served the city council for the past 29 years.

Prior to his appointment to the ceremonial role of Birmingham’s First Citizen, Cllr Lal held various roles including Chair of Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), and membership of Co-ordinating OSC and West Midlands Combined Authority Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Chaman Lal, said: “By accepting this honour, I am very proud to be able to serve this great city as Lord Mayor.

“When I was first elected to the city council nearly 30 years ago, I never imagined that one day I would become Lord Mayor.

“It will be a huge privilege to serve this city as First Citizen, and I look forward to representing Birmingham locally, nationally and internationally over the coming year.

“I’m also keen to meet people from our diverse communities and will do all I can to support organisations and volunteer groups that help vulnerable residents, especially during the current cost of living crisis.”

During Cllr Lal’s year as Lord Mayor, he will be supported by the Lady Mayoress, his wife Vidya Wati.