As I’ve said before, I’m inviting all candidates for Tower Hamlets mayor to write in their own words why they want the job. For those who think this is mere regurgitation of press releases, we journalists can’t win: when we cut quotes to fit space or because they’re just dull, we’re accused of quoting out of context. This is not a newspaper, but a blog, and as such there’s more scope.
The scrutiny will also continue, of course.
Neil King is the Tory candidate. Though he’s a regular at Tory events and an occasional at council meetings, I don’t know too much about him. He’s a criminal barrister and, as you’d expect, pretty formidable in a debate. However, against the other main candidates he does lack the experience of office, but maybe that’s a good thing in Tower Hamlets.
His personal and professional profile is here:
| BARRISTER PROFILE Neil King |
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E: – Call: 2003 Academic Background: Quizzes, Cinema and Fulham FC |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE Criminal Defence and Prosecution Cash Detention and Forfeiture Road Traffic BIOGRAPHY Neil had been a member of the University Crime Forum, and this in part, led him to consider a career at the bar. After completing a law conversion course and the BVC at ICSL, Neil began pupillage at what was then Francis Taylor Building in 2003. He was taken on by Valios and Boardman Chambers as a tenant in 2005. Neil undertakes a wide variety of criminal work, both defence and prosecution and has prosecuted and defended in drugs importations, burglaries, harassment and cases involving violence among others. He also brings an eye for detail and knowledge of procedure to road traffic cases and to POCA hearings. |
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He also tells me:
“I’m 31, I live in Wapping, I like quizzes, cinema, reading, my favourite author is Graham Greene, the last two CDs I bought were Britten’s War Requiem and Lady Gaga’s The Fame. I’m a Fulham FC fan, I can cook a little and eat a lot! I now mainly prosecute and have dealt with serious assaults, sexual offences, drugs rings and frauds. I am an approved prosecutor for the Attorney General’s panel and practice mainly in London and the South East.”
And here’s his case for the voters, in his own words:
Why I am Running for Mayor.
I have lived in Wapping all of my working life. I call Tower Hamlets home and I love the sense of community that exists in all our neighbourhoods, from the Isle of Dogs to Spitalfields.
But I believe we can do so much better. Since I was selected as the Conservative candidate in July, I have been struck by how desperate residents are for change. They want a mayor who will make decisions on behalf of all the community, not play groups off against each other. They want a mayor who will be a clean break from the past, bringing an end to cronyism. They don’t want gesture politics, but real substance and change. What is certainly clear is that Labour’s selection farce leaves local people in real doubt as to whether they can be trusted with this important job.
The Conservatives are the official opposition on the council, and we are the only party who can end Labour’s grip on the borough. I believe my priorities are the right ones and that I can bring ideas in each area that will transform Tower Hamlets.
I will prioritise employment, making sure that the exceptionally young population of this borough has the opportunities they need. I will introduce a joined up strategy for our markets, a Brick Lane Business Improvement District and job clubs.
I will focus on education, helping schools that wish to become academies and reversing Labour’s damaging cuts to English classes.
I will also emphasise crime reduction, so that we feel safe on our streets and in our homes by making greater use of the council’s powers to tackle anti social behaviour and meeting regularly with the Borough Commander and the Safer Neighbourhood teams throughout the borough.
We all know that as a result of the financial mess the new government are having to clean up that there are going to be financial challenges facing whoever is elected mayor. I will remove inefficiency and waste and preserve frontline services. Never again will £17,000 of our money be spent on putting photos on lampposts, nor will I spend £100,000 on bus stop advertising. I will also bring to an end the £2million a year East End Life; if I am doing my job properly, I won’t need this council propaganda sheet to tell everyone how well I’m doing.
On one final note, when it comes to negotiating with central government to ensure the East End gets a fair crack of the whip, surely electing a Conservative mayor gives us the best chance of being heard in the corridors of power.
Trial by Jeory 
Ted, maybe this might help you in your eagerness to do a Trial-by-Jeory on Lutfur Rahman!
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Dear Friend,
You will be aware that on the 4th of September this month the Labour party chose me as their Mayoral candidate for Tower Hamlets. My selection was by more than 50% of the members voting at the ballot. Some of you will have also attended my official Campaign launch 14th September with endorsements from Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Keith Vaz MP, Ken Livingstone, Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock amongst many others.
In addition, the Labour party itself had appointed my agent, Graham Taylor and campaign manager, Cllr Marc Francis. Yet on the 21st of September the Labour party decided to impose one of the losing candidates who came third having received only 10% of the votes. The imposition was due to this candidate bringing unsubstantiated allegations to the NEC concerning irregularities with the membership of the local party – the vetting process of which was the responsibility of the Labour party officials themselves.
I was as shocked as you are at the actions of some members Labour Party National Executive Committee who made the decision and feel that a great injustice has been done in undermining the democratic process that elected me.
After 20,000 signatures on a petition to trigger a referendum, 60,000 people voting for a yes referendum and a hard fought selection – I was the only Labour Party Candidate to support the Mayoral system. I have come a long way, knocked on 100’s of doors and heard thousands of voices.
And because of what you said – and because you decided that change must come to Tower Hamlets, because you believed that this year must be different than all the rest, I decided to stand for Mayor of Tower Hamlets.
What I believe in is the progressive social agenda of the Labour Party, of which I’ve been a loyal member and activist for 20 years. In my time as Leader of the Council (2008-10), I vigorously pursued that agenda, driving through change in areas like regeneration, reducing crime, helping overcrowded families and improving youth services – as well as safeguarding our heritage by saving Bancroft Library, investing in remedial works on Poplar Baths and putting Council funding towards the Bethnal Green Tube Wartime Disaster memorial.
Those two years in charge were a steep learning curve, we achieved a great deal but I recognise that we didn’t get everything right. Sometimes it was down to our determination to focus on delivery above all else, but the tempestuous internal politics of the Labour Group also played a part. I have been a consistent supporter of the Mayoralty because it gives a chance to transcend petty politicking and concentrate on improving the lives of the 250,000 people who rely on the Council for all their basic services.
If I am elected to be the Mayor, I will fight tooth and nail to protect and enhance the legacy of Tower Hamlets. These are tough times, we know there will be cuts, but we also know that the Coalition Government is driven more by reckless ideology than economic necessity.
Someone will need to stand up for Tower Hamlets, to defend the gains we’ve fought so hard for. Someone will need to ensure that the Olympics and Crossrail deliver for our whole community. Someone will need to fight for the safe, cohesive, inclusive borough that our residents deserve.
I believe I’ve demonstrated that no matter what happens, I am committed to those goals and that I will not rest until they are achieved. I hope you will support me with either your first or second preference so that together we can make a real, lasting and transformative change in Tower Hamlets.
If you have any questions or would like me to visit you in person, please contact me on 07956 968 242 or email me at lutfurrahman.th@gmail.com
Regards
Cllr. Lutfur
p.s Read Christine Shawcroft’s NEC report back by visiting: http://www.christineshawcroft.co.uk/nec
Does ‘TooManyStupidPeopleOnHere’ from Respect actually have the right to question what we members of the Labour party decide upon doing? I don’t think so!
Go and sort out your own remnants of what you still seem to describe as a party. It’s a joke that you triggered the referendum, and could not even field a candidate when common sense would have expected you lot to come out first. Furthermore, when we in Labour seemed to have made our decision, you lot could not even find a credible candidate to field threw yourselves behind Labour, and now you change your mind again?
This clearly demonstrates that the Labour NEC made the correct decision because it is absolutely clear from your actions that Lutfur Rahman colluded and traded with you lot without any thought to his now ex-Labour party comrades. The positive outcome will now be on 21 October when Respect and it’s secret followers disguised within the Labour party will no longer exist, and good riddance!
[…] far, Neil King of the Conservatives has contributed here, as has the Liberal Democrats’ John Griffiths, […]