No By-election to Be Held After Death of Hounslow Councillor

Junue Meah represented Hounslow East for Labour

Councillor Junue Meah. Picture: Hounslow Council

March 12, 2026

Hounslow Council has paid tribute to Councillor Junue Meah following his death last weekend and confirmed there will be no by-election to replace him.

Cllr Meah had told colleagues that he was very proud of being the first Deputy Mayor of Bangladeshi descent in Hounslow. Hounslow Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) there will be no by-election in Hounslow East following his death due to local elections being less than two months away.

Cllr Meah was first elected to the council in 2022 representing Hounslow East, and has been described as “a fully engaged community councillor diligently serving the residents in his ward”. He served on a number of committees including the Central Housing Area Forum, Pension Fund Panel, Licensing and General Purposes Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel.

He was also appointed as a council representative on a number of outside bodies including the Thomas Layton Collection Trust and the Hounslow Community Association. Hounslow Council said: “He had closely supported the Mayor by attending a large number of events across Hounslow and was always particularly delighted to be asked to attend the regular citizenship ceremonies as guest of honour.”

In his professional life, Cllr Meah was a “noted” local businessman and ran the popular Spice of India Restaurant in Whitton High Street. He served as General Secretary and Trustee of the West London Bangladesh Welfare Association and was the Deputy Secretary of Bangladesh Catering Association.

In his private life Cllr Meah, who was born in 1971, was a “huge and devoted” follower of cricket and interested in world politics. He was also a member of the Unite Union, and is survived by his wife and two children.

There will be a tribute to the Cllr Meah at the next meeting of the council. This will not take place until May 26 after the council cancelled the meeting penned in for March.

A book of condolence is open in Hounslow House library until March 25 for anyone wishing to leave a personal message.

The Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Councillor Junue Meah, Labour Councillor for Hounslow East.

“Junue was a pillar of the local community. He was also Hounslow’s first Deputy Mayor of Bangladeshi heritage and a champion of his community. He was a successful entrepreneur, a dedicated ward councillor, and a much respected Deputy Mayor of Hounslow.

“More than that, he was a man of incredible kindness and generosity, who put those values at the heart of everything he did. All of our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.”

Cllr Peter Thompson, leader of the Conservative opposition in Hounslow posted on social media, “Junue was always friendly and approachable, and he never allowed political differences to get in the way of treating colleagues with warmth and respect. That is something I always appreciated about him.”

Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter