This piece from Labour Uncut has been reported widely elsewhere, but I thought my dear and knowledgeable readers would like the chance to air their views here.
My only observation is that if Ed Miliband is indeed inclined to readmit Lutfur Rahman, then I’m sure he’d expect to see him out campaigning for Labour’s candidate in Spitalfields over the next month…
Here’s the piece:
Livingstone to push for Lutfur Rahman’s readmission to Labour
Labour disciplinary problems come not in single spies, but in battalions. As Woolasgate rages, Uncut understands that the NEC meeting on 30 November will see Ken Livingstone stage an audacious bid to get Lutfur Rahman reinstated to the party.
According to Labour officials, Ken has already discussed the issue directly with Ed Miliband, talks which a Livingstone insider described as “positive”.
Rahman, who defeated official Labour candidate Helal Abbas in last month’s election to become directly elected mayor of Tower Hamlets, has asked Livingstone to broker his return to the Labour fold.
Sources close to Tower Hamlets Labour party confirmed that discussions have taken place between Rahman and Livingstone about his bid for re-inclusion, and that Rahman had decided to delay appointing a full cabinet in the borough until his status in the party had been confirmed. In contrast to the Livingstone camp, they believe that Ed Miliband will not endorse a return for Rahman, and that Livingstone does not enjoy sufficient NEC support to secure his readmission otherwise.
The decision to push for Rahman’s inclusion will create serious tensions within the local party. Local MP Jim Fitzpatrick has made his own submission to the NEC calling for disciplinary action against Ken’s public show of support for Rahman during the campaign.
Sources close to Ed Miliband have indicated that such action is unlikely.
Trial by Jeory 
Very unlikely i think.
Luthur’s re-admission will depend on who needs who more between Ed and Ken ahead of general election…like trade union support!
Trade union votes on the NEC got rid of Lutfur to start with, they’re not about to change their mind
Lies and fear of fundamentalism got rid of Luthur, wouldn’t associate trade unions to NEC’s ill-advised decision…there are rumours Roshnara Alee MP got summoned and ‘told off’ by Ed Miliband for recommending the weak Abbus as candidate to NEC to replace Luthur.
The inquiry into Mr Rahman’s conduct in aiming to secure his Labour candidacy is yet to reach its conclusions. Surely the party will be better placed to come to a view after that. If he is found wanting then the option of a recall would be rather welcome in future situations such as this.
What inquiry? Lutfur left the Labour Party, therefore there was never any inquiry.
There is a rumour in the community that Rush is now looking for a seat in Bangladesh Parliament.
While an inquiry into Luthur may conclude his innocence or wrongdoing an inquest into Abbus’ humiliating defeat for TH Labour would be of immensely intriguing interest to the inquisitive mind!
Its rather academic this isn’t it?
Firstly, Ken doesnt have the votes on the NEC. Whilst he has a comendable track record of standing by his mates, even when they dont deserve it, its a matter of math.
Secondly, what’s the safe decision? It’s to stick with the decision that was made. If Lutfur surprises us all and peforms well as Mayor, then he (possibly) could be readmitted at a later date. If he is readmitted now…well god forbid… they’re be more than one by-election. And then what happens after the dust settles, if he turns out to be a disaster? Not good, not good at all.
The other thing to think about from a Labour perspective is the deadwood that went with Lutfur. Finally, the local party has a chance to be all that it can be now the SWPers have left. Draw a line under the whats happened and move on.
Incidentally, the Woolas judgement is worth a read. The ruling is draw dropping in places. Cant help thinking that it’s not right to come to such a judgement without looking at what the LibDems were saying – the onus is on the winner to proof absolutely every statement issued lives up the legal standard. Tough when you’re dealing with voluntary election agents.
Fighting4EdMiliband: with regard to Abbas’s performance, he had very little profile in Tower Hamlets and did very little to educate voters about why Rahman had been “unfairly” ousted as Labour’s candidate. So it wasn’t a great surprise that voters opted for the “victim”. Ken’s support for Rahman was entirely consisted with his own stand as an indy in 2000
Abbas’ profile not so little in Tower Hamlets where he was elected councillor as ‘Abbas Uddin’ in 1985. Went on to be leader and then a regular in the Eye’s Rotten Boroughs. In September issue, Rotten Boroughs had this potted bio…
Abbas, a former bankrupt, is hardly a breath of fresh air, having appeared in this column on numerous occasions over the past decade. In a previous incarnation as council leader in 2003 he won the Eye’s prestigious “brass-necked councillor of the year” award for pocketing a 49 percent rise in allowances (Eye 1096) and ungraciously responded to the accolade by declaring that Eye readers were not “sane-minded” and should “get a life” (Eye 1099).
During his three years at the helm up to 2005, he took on the mantle of fraud-buster and police opened investigations into four council-funded organisations. Some of the shine came off this when leaked documents from a Housing Corporation investigation into allegations of electoral fraud at a housing association referred to a certain “Candidate A” who had used “votes” from an out-of-date register – which included the names of dead people – in an attempt to win a seat on the association’s board (Eye 1133). Abbas was asked on at least four occasions if he was “Candidate A” – and each time strangely lost the power of speech.
If the leader of the council didn’t have a profile, Lutfur’s lies, slurs and inuendo made sure that he did.
David: Your analysis is good, thank you! But why are Tower Hamlets Labour Party imposing a candidate again immediately after losing an election because of imposition? Presumably the likes of Cllr Josh Pick and Graham Taylor view defeat, shamelessness and political humiliation as party aims because they have not only imposed a little known by-election candidate but one who has been ‘jail’ and doesn’t carry any local Lab branch support in Spitalfields and Banglatown, which is evident in that none of his 6pm daily campaign leaders are ward members or Bengali, despite being in Banglatown. How bizarre!
I quite agree. They were partly hampered by how late the selection process ran. But since the idea of an elected mayor for TH was only approved in May, holding the election this year feels much too early. Only those who were already prepared, who already had the profile, had any hope of winning. Step forward Mr Rahman.
TWO LABOUR DEFECTIONS
Who are they and how much for per head per annum? Buying and selling with taxpayers’ money is common I guess!
Apparently they are Councillors Shohid Ali and Cabir Ahmed, both Cllr Abbus’ henchmen, have been kicked out by Labour party for supporting Independent Mayor Luthur Rahmann. There’s nothing reported in ELA.
Shahed Ali, loool wasnt he the same guy that was dissing Ltufur left right and centre, he was one of few Cllrs who voiced their dislike for Lutfur and his team quite publicly…
now he is running back?… Hmmmmm… I say that reminds me of a Political P********e… im sure you all can fill in the gaps
The rats are leaving the ship but HMS THLP is not sinking …
It’s official: Councillors Shoheed Alee and Cabir Alee, the two councillors who left Labour whip last night to support Independent mayor Luthur have both been expelled by the party today. You can confirm it by ringing London Regional Labour Party and Roshnara’s office. Good or Bad?
I’ve just contacted Shahed about this and he says he knows nothing about it. And neither do a couple of other informed sources within the Labour group.
Neither, but the only self-respecting option Labour had. It remains to be seen whether Rahman deserved to be replaced, but he should not then have stood against a Labout candidate and others should not have supported him without resigning.