Patel had been the town's deputy mayor since May 2022 prior to taking on his current position.
Following the conclusion of Councillor Neil Darby's tenure in office, the city of Preston in the UK voted Yakub Patel, a native of Gujarat, as its first Indian-origin Muslim mayor for the years 2023–2024. Patel will preside over meetings of the council and serve as the official figurehead who represents the city at events during their first year in office.
"I am honoured and delighted to become the Mayor of Preston, a city I am proud to call my home. I hope to make positive differences to the communities that I serve and also provide additional support through my Mayoral charities for the coming year," Patel said.
In addition to helping the then-Mayor welcome the Royal Family's trip in the summertime, the long-serving council member spent time performing municipal tasks.
"...It gives me great pleasure to be handing over the chains of office to the Mayor-elect, Councillor Yakub Patel. The last year has been the most outstanding experience of my life and it has been a huge honour to have been the Mayor of our fabulous city," Preston's outgoing Mayor Darby wrote in a tweet.
Patel, who was born in the Gujarati city of Bharuch, earned a BA and an MA in English Literature from the M S University of Baroda. His employment with Preston Corporation began in 1979, after he immigrated to the UK in June 1976.
Patel worked as a Revenue Inspector, Traffic Inspector, Assistant Chief, Chief Inspector, and Operations Manager before he left his position on July 4, 2009.
He began canvassing and handing out flyers for his late father, an ardent supporter and an affiliate of the Congress Party, at the age of 10 and has been active in politics ever since. In 1995, he became the first Muslim politician in Preston City Council's history when he was chosen to serve as a Labour Party councillor for the Avenham Ward.
