Lord Shaffaq Mohammed: from "the ice-cold streams of the valleys of Kashmir" to being a new Lib Dem member of the House of Lords
21 May 2025
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP welcomed Shaffaq to Parliament on the announcement of his appointment to the House of Lords:
“Shaffaq has been an incredible public servant for over two decades through his work in Sheffield and will bring huge expertise on local government and communities."
Shaffaq Mohammed has dedicated his life to youth work, public service and local government. Born in Kashmir, his family moved to Sheffield to work in the city’s renowned steel industry.
His first job was at the Co-op in Hillsborough where he started as a YTS trainee unloading lorries, and went on to become their youngest ever manager, managing multiple stores. He went on to study Business at the University of Sheffield.
Shaffaq then became a youth worker, Shaffaq dedicated himself to creating pathways for disadvantaged young people to access work and education opportunities.
His hands-on experience with local challenges inspired him to become a councillor for the Liberal Democrats in Sheffield in 2004, where he focused on building a more inclusive and supportive community.
In 2005, Cllr Mohammed helped raise money to help those affected by the Kashmir earthquake that claimed more than 85,000 lives. He's been leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council in 2011
He was awarded an MBE for his political service in 2015, and in 2019 he was elected to represent Yorkshire and the Humber in the European Parliament. In this role, he passionately advocated for women' s rights, environmental sustainability, human rights and civil liberties.
In 2021-22, he chaired a Carers Commission, established by Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey, which took evidence from experts, campaigners and carers themselves to develop new policies to support paid and unpaid carers.