Rotherham Mayor Rukhsana Ismail can speak English, contrary to false online claims.

The newly elected mayor of Rotherham, Rukhsana Ismail, delivered her inauguration speech in English, contrary to an online article that falsely claimed she couldn't speak the language. Ismail, born in England, is multilingual and fluent in English. The claims made by The People's Voice are false, and Ismail has spoken out against the disinformation.

The newly elected mayor of Rotherham, Rukhsana Ismail, has been the subject of a false claim regarding her ability to speak English. According to Reuters Fact Check, an online article from The People’s Voice falsely reported that Ismail, who took office on May 16, revealed she couldn't speak English during her inauguration speech [1].

Ismail, who was born in England, is multilingual, including fluency in English. She delivered a seven-minute speech in English and reserved the final minute for a message in her mother tongue, Pothwari, during her swearing-in ceremony. The false claim was based on a video from a Pakistani news channel, Dunya News, which was incorrectly cited as her inaugural speech [1].

In response to the false claim, Ismail stated, "I have lived and worked in Rotherham for many years, and I use English every day. My mother tongue is Potwari and Urdu and I’m proud of my heritage while being fully fluent in English." She also emphasized that the mayoral role is about unity, civic pride, and community, and she remains focused on serving every resident of Rotherham with honesty, integrity, and gratitude [1].

The People’s Voice did not respond to a request for comment. This incident highlights the importance of accurate reporting and the potential for disinformation to divide communities. Ismail's response underscores her commitment to transparency and her dedication to her role as mayor.

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/article-falsely-claims-new-rotherham-mayor-cannot-speak-english-2025-06-23/