Raja Miah
For years, councils and political parties pretended that Pakistani Biraderi politics was a harmless cultural habit. This is a cowardly lie. One that let them avoid the truth.
In reality, the biraderi is a political machine designed for one purpose: control. It was engineered over generations in Pakistan and replicated inside Labour's Muslim strongholds across the country. It rewards loyalty to family blocs, not to voters. It promises influence in exchange for silence. It suppresses dissent. Once it takes root, it spreads across everything it touches.
Candidate selections begin to reflect the interests of clan elders rather than the needs of the community. Postal voting becomes a tightly managed asset. Council leadership contests turn into negotiations between a handful of men. Community funding is redirected to reward compliance. Even safeguarding and policing adjust themselves to avoid upsetting those who hold the real power.
This is not a cultural quirk. It no longer sits within British democracy. It grows around it, replacing it piece by piece. It must be confronted before it is too late.
