I have just spoken to Oliur Rahman, one of EIGHT, not seven, councillors who attended a campaign meeting for Lutfur Rahman in Brick Lane last night (the other was Ohid Ahmed).
Oli was Respect’s first ever councillor, elected back in 2004. He fell out massively with George Galloway and Abjol Miah, the then group leader on Tower Hamlets council in 2008 and retains a strong resentment to them to this day.
Here’s what he told me:
“I’m supporting Lutfur because he has been chosen as teh Labour party candidate by the members of the Labour party and the Labour party is only as strong as its members.
“As a Labour party member, and not as a councillor, I feel that the NEC and the regional London party should acknowledge that support. It’s very important that the party doesn’t forget the members.
“Therefore I’m standing by the decision that the members have taken. I don’t feel that expells me from the Labour party and it is still my home and the party for the working classes and trade unions. Ed Miliband reflects my aspirations.
“Respect is finished, but it can support whoever it likes. But I feel they have deliberately damaged Lutfur Rahman by supporting him because his opponents in Labour will now use that against him.”
I’ve known Oli for several years now, throughout the time he agonised about leaving Respect and the insults they then hurled at him. He is in no way linked to IFE. Perhaps he is someone who’s made his bed, but his position gives the whole anti-Lutfur campaign a different slant.
That momentum Lutfur is gaining will take on a whole new dimension after the Labour conference in Manchester when the likes of Cllr Marc Francis will probably announce their intentions to stay or go.
On the question of expulsions, here’s a comment from an official Labour spokesman:
“Anyone who supports a candidate standing against the party automatically expels themselves.”
Trial by Jeory 
Is it worth repeating that last sentence in a shortened form as the title of a new post? Which then maybe goes on to explain why this is the case?
I have a feeling that there are maybe quite a few people – including some Labour party members – who don’t quite get that particular point.
As HH indicated in the NEC meeting, the point is that the party – and the reputation of the party – is always bigger than the agenda of any one individual.
I guess a number of us will be watching with interest to see
– who resigns
– who automatically expel themselves through their (conscious or inadvertent) actions and
– come “the purge” who gets formally expelled……
Olihur Rahman’s comments are important and it should make it clear that there are many people who will support Lutfur Rahman who are not ‘fundamentalist sympathisers’ as Andrew Gilligan would have it. The situation is not nearly as clear cut as that.
Hopefully people who want to make a protest vote against the Labour actions will also remember that the Mayor is going to have a lot of power, and they should really want Lutfur to take power if they vote for him.
Well that’s’nice.
Ed Miliband would be horrified to read this.
Oli was anti IFE until Lutfur offered him a cabinet job and the status and money that went with it. He performed very baldy. The other thing to note about Oli is his extreme self righteousness. Given he has stood against the Labour Party on four occasions no one is interested in what he has to say on the matter.
He’s’incredibly unpopular and Fitzpatrick personally apologised to the Laboue councillors group for his rolw in recruiting him.
Who were the other eight?
As a Labour party member I could care less whether LR is a crook. The fact that the question is posed to begin with is enough to make him ineligible. The High court ORDERED him onto the list; the central party did not want him on the list and have now removed him. If you put his name into Google how is it tenable to have him as a candidate? The court of public opinion is not the correct one to dispute these allegations in. It should have been dealt with in the correct forum. it wasn’t tough.
Ted, Oli 2, don’t know what he is talking about. He really don’t know the background. Maybe he should go and find out the true information before talking nonsense. I understand Jim is currently on holiday, so not sure which Labour Group meeting he attended. Cllr Oli Rahman unhappy just likes many Labour Party members in Tower Hamlets. I know Oli Rahman very well, no matter what he will NEVER support IFE and go and check his family background. Many of them are freedom fighters. Furthermore Oli Rahman will always support Jim, ALWAYS!! So don’t chat about things you dont know.
Oliur Rahman was the most vocal supporter of the cash grab organisec by Lutfur supporters at th last labour group meeting as reported by Ted. Oli I’d amongst those councillors who believe that getting elected entitles them and their supporters to as much public money as they can get their hands on.
This is now this fourth political grouping in as many years-Respect, Left List, briefly the Labour Party and now the party.
He may not be an ire activist but he is more than happy to accept their support if it gets him cash.
Not sure that quote from a ‘labour party spokesman’ is entirely accurate in terms of the standing orders if the party. It’s been a while since I looked but seem to remember that the key phrase us bringing the party into disrepute. There are plenty of members married to candidates in other parties and doubtless they give emotional support to their partners, for example. Splitting hairs I know, but if you’re giving a statement to the press one should choose your words with care.
Having tried to digest Oliur’s statement, I feel I have to make a quick comment, quick because I am in Bangladesh and the electricity may trip any moment!
In Respect after the council election in 2006, a huge rift emerged between Abjol Miah and Oliur Rahman over who should be leader. The group of councilors decided on ABJOL. However, Oli then tried to get the SWP fraction with whom he was close friends with, to have members overturn this system to one of the membership electing its leader but failed so Abjol was elected leader.
The following year, Abjol was not popular and did not carry the majority vote of his councilors so he now decided to change the system to members electing the leader. A huge rush of members were suddenly recruited, and these re-elected Abjol as group leader. Because Oli was not happy with this position, he declined to accept any positions on the various committees that are unpaid. However, when the Labour group offered Respect a paid Overview & Scrutiny position, Oli immediately threw his hat into the ring and pissed-off Ahmed Hussain the process by contesting against him, although he declined to accept any postions that were not paid!
Subsequently, Oli got pissed-off and convinced Rania and Mother together with Ahmed Hussain to leave and form a separate group called ‘Respect, the Unity Coalition’. Oli finaly had his chance to become a GROUP LEADER.
Need I say anymore???
Shahed, whatever!! you are the only one who was fighting to get more money as a lead councillor. So pls don’t make out Oli after the money, but who took O&S post make sure you find out your information before you answer!!
For everyone’s information,I understand some councillors still have the email sent by Cllr Ali to Labour Group saying Lead Councillors should get more money!! Cllr Ali is one of the current Lead councillor but not to long!!
I thought I might as well add my 2 cents here
Cllr Oliur Rahman is an honest decent guy who works hard for the community irrespective of what you may think, i work in the borough and he has done good work.
No one cares about the past, or who is supported etc,,,,we should deal with the current situation at hand which is, the Labour party got rid of someone whom the party members voted for in confidence, who cares if they dont like the outcome
many people were shocked Ed won over his brother BUT does that mean he should be kicked out because the majoirty were not happy…NO…. the people voted fairly and if you ask people to cast their votes, when they do, dont re-tract decisions because a certain clique are unhappy…
Bottom line is, labour TH members went to the polls on the 4th Sept and the people spoke yet some people somewhere up high didnt agree with their decision… so why bother having elections then if thats the case..
U shoud have ONE rule for all not pick and choose what suits you!!!!!!
You seriously need a nose job Shahid Ali! Everyone in Tower Hamlets knows what a hard working selfless person Oli Is, so why are you attacking him? Is it because you are jealous of him? Oli is a saint and we all love him, what do your consituents have to say about you?
Incorrect Oli did NOT force anyone to leave the Respect Group it was Rania and her mum Luftur Begum and Ahmed Hussain who put pressure on him to leave!
Oli was not made leader of Respect because George Galloway felt he was indebt with IFE for getting him elected and stood by Abjol Miah!
IFE made threats to Oli did anyone know that? Yes they did and what did they do?
IFE is controlling RESPECT and Lutfur Rahman!
Shahid Ali why did you defect to Labour may we ask?
Seriously, i know a good plastic surgeon in Harley Street who can fix that face for a good price!
In my view Oliur Rahman would make a fantastic Mayor! The rest are just in it for the money! Support Oli for Mayor next time.