Sharon Osbourne ‘enters politics’ to fight convicted terrorists
Sharon Osbourne could be considering an extraordinary shift from show business to local politics after conservative figures urged her to run for municipal elections against a man convicted of a terrorism plot – in a move sources have said RadarOnline.com could provide the vulnerable widow with some much-needed focus amid her grief over the death of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne.
A proposal for her to run as a politician emerged after local Conservatives published an open letter inviting London-born Sharon, 73, to run in Britain’s May elections, arguing her public profile and blunt speaking style could help tackle the council’s serious financial problems.
The intervention followed Sharon’s online reaction to the news Shahid Butt, who represents the Independent Candidates Alliance, was meant to contest a seat.
Butt, 60, was convicted of plotting to blow up the British consulate in Yemen, although he insisted the charge was “trumped up”.
He was sentenced to five years in prison in 1999 after being found guilty of planning terrorist attacks on the British consulate, an Anglican church and a Swiss hotel in Yemen.
Prosecutors said the terrorist cell was sent by Abu Hamza, the infamous Islamist preacher who was later jailed in the US and whose son was among those convicted in the same case.
Butt continued to deny his terrorism conviction, claiming his confession was obtained under torture. He has also said the evidence against him is fabricated.
But he has admitted he has a violent past, which he attributes to the racism he experienced growing up in Birmingham.
Before his conviction in Yemen, Butt had already served a prison sentence in Birmingham for violent crimes and was associated with the Lynx gang – a predominantly Pakistani street gang involved in clashes with skinheads and the National Front in the 1980s.
Sharon posted a video response to Instagram after seeing footage of Butt, writing: “I think I’m going to move to Birmingham and put my name in for the council vote,” before adding: “I’m serious.”
The comment prompted a swift response from local Conservatives, who have been looking for a high-profile candidate as the council continues to struggle under the weight of effective bankruptcy and public anger over cuts to services.
Councilor Robert Alden, leader of the Conservative group on Birmingham City Council, said the invitation was sincere.
He wrote: “There is no doubt that the election of Sharon Osbourne would help change the council.”
Alden added, “Sharon is clearly passionate and wants to help make our city even better.” The comments were published in an open letter addressed directly to Sharon and shared by party activists.
A source close to the Conservatives said the pitch was not just about celebrity appeal.
They added: “The feeling is that Sharon Osbourne would immediately change the dynamics of the campaign and the council chamber itself. She is not one to shy away from confrontation, and they believe she would publicly challenge senior officials, demand answers about how public funds are spent, and stimulate conversations about the city’s finances that many people have avoided for years. According to the Conservatives, her mere presence would make it much more difficult for the establishment to continue as usual.”
Another insider said the idea of a campaign had “sparked something” in Sharon after months dominated by grief.
Ozzy, the Black Sabbath frontman and self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, died last year at the age of 76 after years of ill health.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019 and suffered a series of complications after spinal surgery.
His death marked the end of one of heavy metal’s most influential careers, from the early days of Black Sabbath to a chaotic solo run that made him a global star.
Sharon attended Ozzy’s funeral in his hometown of Birmingham in July. The ceremony attracted fans from all over the world, and armies lined the streets in tribute.
In the months since, Sharon has spoken privately about her struggle with the sudden silence after decades of overseeing Ozzy’s career and public life.
One employee said a political campaign could be “a way to channel her energy somewhere,” “demanding and purposeful” to “distract” herself from grief.
Another source said the idea of her running against Butt struck her as “symbolic”, given Birmingham’s struggles with extremism, social cohesion and public trust.
Butt has maintained his innocence and said his conviction was politically motivated. There is no indication that Sharon has formally agreed to run, and party officials stressed that any candidacy would be hers alone.
