a trainee youth worker. Ali acquired his distance-learning degree from the YMCA George Williams College while working full-time. Political career Since May 1993, Ali has been a Labour Party member. After his elder brother, Sitar, encouraged him to stand for the council, in May 2002, in the Camden London Borough Council election, he was elected councillor for the Regent's Park ward. In May 2003, at the age of 34, Ali became Mayor of Camden and the youngest mayor in the country, as well as the UK's first Bangladeshi and first Muslim mayor. He was succeeded by being Harriet Garland the following year. In May 2004, he became Executive Member for Community Engagement. Ali was also the first Bangladeshi Executive Member and the first Bangladeshi Leader of the Labour Group and Camden Council. In 1995, he joined the King's Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association charity and has been Executive Director since January 2001. Since 2002, he been councillor for Regent's Park ward, with a focus on diverting young people away from crime and conflict. Ali was leader of the Labour Group between 2009 and 2012. In May 2009, he was selected to lead the party in the 2010 local elections, becoming Labour's first Muslim leader. In May 2010, he led Labour to victory in the local council elections for Camden Council, defeating the borough's Liberal Democrats/Conservative coalition. Ali became leader of Camden Council from May 2010 until standing down in May 2012. In March 2012, he announced he would be standing down as leader of Camden Council in May after his regeneration chief, Cllr Sarah Hayward, confirmed she would stand against him for the post at Labour's annual meeting in May. In March 2012, he became Cabinet Member for Young People. In May 2022, Ali became Mayor of Camden for a second time. Community work Since 2001, Ali has been the Executive Director of the King's Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association. He was also the Chair of the Healthy Families Partnership at King's Cross, Board member of the West Euston Partnership (WEP), Chair of the WEP Planning Working Group and on the executive board of the Community Empowerment Network. He also chaired the Camden Bangladesh Mela Committee. He was the Cabinet Member for Community Safety following the London bombings on 7 July 2005. He was also an advisor to the Metropolitan Police Service and The Prince's Trust, and a Governor for Westminster Kingsway