Key Points
- Hounslow Labour councillor Hina Mir, a qualified solicitor representing Feltham West and former deputy mayor, fined £40,000 in January 2025 for employing an illegal worker as a nanny in her west London home, paying her in cash for childcare and household chores.
- City of London County Court rejected Mir’s appeal on 8 December 2025, ordering her to pay the fine plus £3,620 in court costs.
- Labour Party suspended Mir from membership, but she remains an active Hounslow councillor as suspension affects only party status.
- Hounslow Council leader states he was unaware of the case for a year and only learned of it recently.
- Mir reportedly under investigation for parking her BMW in a disabled bay at council offices without a blue badge on 25 November 2025.
- Conservative councillor Jack Emlsey criticises Labour’s handling, questioning Mir’s 2026 election candidacy.
- Hounslow Labour spokesperson confirms suspension and declines comment on internal investigations.
Who is Hina Mir and what led to the fine?
Hina Mir, aged 45, serves as a Labour councillor for Feltham West in Hounslow and previously held the role of deputy mayor. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) via Harrow Online, a West London councillor has been suspended by the Labour Party after a court ruled earlier this year that she employed a worker without the right to work in the UK. The qualified solicitor hired an Indian student as a nanny in her west London home, paying her cash in hand for childcare and household tasks, as detailed in the Evening Standard.
The Home Office issued the £40,000 civil penalty in January 2025 for breaching immigration law. As stated by Neighbour News, Hounslow councillor Hina Mir failed in her appeal against the penalty imposed earlier this year after hiring an illegal immigrant as a nanny. Mir’s attempt to overturn the fine at City of London County Court on 8 December 2025 was dismissed, with the judge ordering payment of the fine and additional £3,620 in costs.
Why was Hina Mir suspended by Labour?
The Labour Party acted swiftly post-appeal dismissal. According to Yashmin Haroon of the Local Democracy Reporting Service via Yahoo News, Hina Mir is suspended by the Labour Party but remains a Hounslow councillor despite being fined. A Hounslow Labour spokesperson told the LDRS,
“Hina Mir has been suspended by the Labour. We do not comment on any internal investigations”.
BBC News reports that the Hounslow Labour Group stated,
“Hina has been suspended by the Labour. We do not comment on any internal investigations”
when questioned why Mir continued as a Labour councillor after the ruling. Suspension applies only to party membership; Mir retains her independent councillor role, as Hounslow Council views it as a party matter.
What has the Hounslow council leader said?
Hounslow Council leader Sanjiv Rajawat spoke out on the matter. As reported in the Evening Standard, a London borough leader has spoken out after one of his Labour councillors was ordered to pay £40,000 for hiring a worker illegally. Mr Rajawat told the LDRS,
“I don’t necessarily have an answer for that, except to say once we know about something like that happening, we will take action, or the [Labour] party will take action”
when asked why the council was unaware of the case for a year.
Chiswick W4 adds that Hounslow Council’s leader claimed he had no idea that one of his senior councillors had been found to employ an illegal worker earlier this year. Rajawat’s comments highlight a communication gap, with the council only recently informed despite the January penalty.
What is the disabled parking investigation about?
Mir faces separate scrutiny over parking. NRI Internet reports that Mir was also allegedly caught illegally parking her BMW in a disabled bay at the council offices without a blue badge. BBC London Facebook post notes that last Tuesday a black BMW i3 believed to belong to Cllr Mir parked in a disabled parking bay under Hounslow House on 25 November 2025.
The Evening Standard mentions the former Hounslow deputy mayor is also reportedly being investigated for parking her BMW in a disabled bay at the council offices without a blue badge. Hounslow Labour indicated they were looking into the incident, amid similar past cases like councillor Farha Reh’s Lamborghini parking controversy in November, where he apologised, resigned a position, and offered charity donation.
How have political opponents responded?
Conservative voices have criticised Labour’s oversight. As per BBC News, Conservative councillor Jack Emlsey remarked that this situation demonstrates a lack of consistency and expressed disbelief that Mir was chosen again to run in the council elections scheduled for 2026, stating,
“I think Hounslow Labour has a lot of questions to answer”.
Attempts to contact Hounslow Council and Cllr Mir for comment were unsuccessful, per multiple outlets including Yahoo UK and BBC. The Law Society Gazette notes the solicitor and politician gave an Indian student cash payments, underscoring the breach heard in court.
What are the broader implications for Hounslow politics?
This scandal compounds controversies in Hounslow Labour. The Local Democracy Reporting Service via multiple platforms questioned why Mir held her position post-ruling, receiving consistent non-committal responses from Labour. Her retention as councillor despite suspension raises questions on accountability, especially ahead of 2026 elections.
Council processes appear disconnected from party disciplinary actions, as Rajawat’s unawareness suggests. Immigration law breaches by public figures like Mir, a solicitor, amplify public and political debate on compliance standards.
