Mayor Tushar Kumar of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council said the UK's view on immigration has changed since 2013, when his family first arrived.
Born in Haryana, Kumar moved to the UK at age 10 and struggled with language and homesickness before carving a political career that led him to become the youngest mayor in the town’s history.
During a council meeting, Kumar warned that while immigration remains a problem, it should not be conflated with hostility toward people of particular ethnicities, stressing that integration means embracing British values without abandoning Indian heritage.
Rani Rani, mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council and Kumar’s mother, recounted how misinformation spread after three young women were killed in July 2024, falsely labeling the attacker as an illegal immigrant, a claim later disproved.
Kumar also highlighted a rise in racism, noting that some children born and raised in the UK now face questioning of their identity, a trend he describes as heartbreaking.
The council’s response to these concerns will be a review of its immigration and integration guidelines, a move that could reshape local policy in the coming months.