I’m not quite sure where to start with my thoughts on last Wednesday’s Tower Hamlets council meeting. In the years I’ve covered the goings-on at Mulberry Place, I’ve seen some pretty tawdry and comical moments, but Wednesday’s affair suggested the amateurs had well and truly taken over the asylum. Judging by the horrified expressions on the faces of the council’s senior management team, they thought so, too.
Firstly, allow me to get the important admin details out of the way. I arrived at about 8.20pm – an hour after the meeting had started – and was greeted at the town hall doors by someone who looked like a cop, talked like a cop, but who is paid far more than a cop. He was a Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officer, or better known to many as a THEO. I first wrote about them in the Sunday Express last year, here. Unbelievably, they’re paid £35,000 a year. “Are you here for a reason, sir?” he asked me. Yes, I said, I was there for the council meeting. I told him I was a resident and a member of the press. “Well, I don’t think we can let you in, sir. It’s full.” I smiled and walked past him while he sought advice from a proper policeman. I was let in.
I then had to deal with Amateur Number Two. For some disturbing reason, the council has got rid of the press desk (ie a table) that used to be placed right at the front of the public gallery. There is no legal requirement for the council to give the press a desk, but it is considered best practice. It allows journalists to remain apart and neutral from any barracking in the public gallery; it identifies journalists to the public and to other journalists; and it allows us to see and hear the proceedings so that we can report the meeting to the wider world. All this seems to be lost on the council’s £100,000-a-year head of communications Takki Sulaiman. For the moment, I’ll be generous and assume it’s because he can’t grasp that concept, rather than suggest he is deliberately trying to hinder the work of the press in the interests of the new regime (because, shurely, he wouldn’t do that would he… .)
So when Takki told me there was “plenty of space” for me to sit at the back of the gallery, I smiled and then ignored him. Another far more helpful council officer understood my point and found a seat for me in the second row.
Which is where I had the lovely privilege of witnessing Amateurs Numbers Two and Three. Directly behind me was millionaire housing association tenant and main Lutfur Rahman supporter Shiraj Haque, who, because council chairman Cllr Motin uz Zaman was too weak or terrified to control, spent the entire evening: a) eating crisps; b) playing with and talking into his mobile phone; c) insulting me, Andrew Gilligan and everyone bar Lutfur and his supporters; and d) displaying the kind of political naivety that I’m sure made even Lutfur cringe.
Here are just a few of the things Shiraj bawled out:
“One Mayor, one borough, he will do anything he likes”; “Peter [Golds], get out of the borough, you can rent one of my flats”; “Peter, are you going on a honeymoon with Jim Fitzpatrick?”; and heckling during a discussion on investment strategies, “I can give you a better rate of interest if you invest in me”.
At no stage was he told to shut up. Respect chair Carole Swords may have an opinion on this: she’s currently banned from the public gallery for one heckle too many.
In contrast, Lutfur himself, sitting on the dais next to chief executive Kevan Collins, maintained a semblance of dignity – even as his young four-strong cabinet displayed a mixture of embarrassing inexperience and bungling incompetence. Lutfur needs to have a word with his kindergarten crew and tell them to dodge Labour’s poison bullets, stop the childish name-calling and forget the threatening finger-wagging: they’re meant to be in charge now and they need to earn respect.
But what of the politics, you ask….
1. Lutfur began his opening speech by addressing the large number of his supporters in the public gallery with: “It’s a pleasure to see so many members of my community here.” That raised the eyebrows of more than one councillor.
2. As my fellow blogger TowerHamletsWatch highlights in an accurate post here, Lutfurite cabinet member Oli Rahman revealed he knew other councillors had been submitting supposedly confidential members’ enquiries (ME) on a particular issue. Stupidly, Oli said MEs are not confidential and now his remarks are to be fully investigated. Again, inexperience and incompetence.
3. Labour councillor Carlo Gibbs and Mayor Lutfur engaged in a momentary but intriguing love-in. Both praised and smiled at each other during a Q&A session. Even Shiraj gave Carlo the Emperor’s thumbs-up. Carlo used to work for Jim Fitz and is very much and up-and-coming politician. It might be that he is playing half of the good cop/bad cop routine and wooing Lutfur in, but I doubt it. I think he’s being more sincere. On Lutfur’s election night, Carlo was overheard saying that Labour should work with the new mayor, but he was then shouted down. This is a relationship to watch, I reckon.
4. Abbas does not seem to be suited to the role of Opposition leader. He’s just too quiet and not forceful enough in the council chamber. Labour need to address this problem.
5. A Lutfurite motion calling on all councillors to work with the mayor was soundly defeated. To me, this was a fairly pointless motion, but I’ve no doubt it will be reported widely in the pro-Lutfur sections of the absent Bengali media as a major snub.
6. A brilliantly insightful and important question on council investment strategy by Labour’s David Edgar, who is a highly respected accountant, to Deputy Mayor Ohid Ahmed, who is not, comprehensively exposed the latter’s lack of grasp on finance and his inability to think on his feet.
7. A motion proposed by Labour’s Josh Peck on the over-exploitation of Victoria Park for summertime music events was passed unanimously. (There were 10 gigs there this year, blocking off almost half the park for entire weekends and causing mayhem for locals who were subjected to revellers vomiting and urinating on their properties.) However, the following comments by Lutfur’s cabinet member for culture, Rania Khan, were later described by one Labour councillor as “dog whistle” remarks: “We need to maximise income [and]…I would urge councillors to think about the whole community not just those who are lucky enough to live around the park.” The demographics of the park perimeters are mostly white and Afro-Caribbean.
8. A motion on Bancroft History Library and Archives provided the most dramatic moments of the night. I’ll save my observations on that for another post, except to say here that it exposed deep rancour between former council leader Denise Jones and her party colleague (just) Marc Francis. He spoke against her with such passion that his voice at one stage faltered and then broke the party whip by voting against a call for Deputy Mayor Ohid to apologise for defaming her and questioning her integrity. Marc lost that vote, but helped secure a council investigation into the Bancroft/Rich Mix affair. As I said, more another time…
Trial by Jeory 
Carlo never worked for Jim Fitz. The Lutfur group didn’t vote for the Vicky Park motion.
Carlo helped out with Jim’s communications, regardless of whether he was a paid or not. As for the park motion, I’ll need a second or third opinion on that: if I’m wrong, it adds weight to the complaint I’ve already made to Kevan Collins and Isabella Freeman about the removal of the press desk.
He was communications officer for Tower Hamlets Labour Party; an elected role on the party executive. He would be expected to do communications for the MP. He was fund raiser the year before that, but you wouldn’t describe him as a fund raiser for Jim; it was also an elected position for the party exec.
I wish people would stop connecting the Rich Mix with the Bancroft. They’re not remotely connected. Besides, most of these people haven’t ever been in either.
Bancroft and Rich Mix “not remotely connected”?!! – rubbish from McCurry, the self-imposed TH Labour Party Communications Officer. Rich Mix took the £350,000 that was for Bancroft’s leaking roof. Everyone in Tower Hamlets knows what happened to Bancroft’s £350,000 – it went to Rich Mix.
Were you at the meeting? You were at the last council meeting where the £350,000 Bancroft/Rich Mix scandal was revealed: however your actions betrayed your anger that Bancroft had “gone public.” (Some of your intimidating words to a Bancroft supporter, former councillor and TH resident.)
Get your facts right and stop harassing residents. The who, when and how of the £350,00 steal for Rich Mix is in the public domain already. There’s also been a Member’s Enquiry on Bancroft’s (stolen) £350,000 – the answer in the public domain as it was not confidential.
As the unofficial Communications Officer for your local party, we residents would appreciate truthful communications from Labour. And no more ‘beasting’ (your phrase) via Facebook, Twitter or residents in person. Would rather hear you communicate (even unofficially as you do here) on the meeting you were at on Monday night: ‘HOW SHOULD THE LABOUR PARTY RESPOND TO ISLAMISTS?’ with fellow anti-Lutfur Rahman members, Rachael Saunders, Jim Fitzpatrick, Graham Taylor, David Edgar and yourself hanging on to your ‘Tower Hamlets is run by Islamic fundamentalists, extremists’ line.
Communicate on what you actually do for Tower Hamlets Labour Party and what you actually know and stop the lies on Bancroft Library. Rich Mix took Bancroft’s £350,000 and no amount of communicating/spinning/negative campaigning will cover it up or divert (ha-ha) local people from the truth.
The truth will no doubt come from Ted who promises to post on Bancroft. At least Ted has a declared interest having run the ELA campaign. Unlike yourself who has not declared that you were in Working Group meetings of the (local) Save Bancroft Library Campaign…..working for?
Uncontrolled nuisance from Vicky Park has been going on for a long time but under a Labour administration co-headed by Cllr Josh Peck, who must have just woken up to it. However, at least this motion was passed under the new loot-for-Ohid Mayor. The press desk should be replaced or Takki otherwise! Cllr Golds must not indulge in any honeymoon suggestions made by Shirias Hawk due to an already existing relationship of anti-Mayor conspiracies with Labour group’s braindead leader, Abbas! Cllrs Olioor and Rania do carry experience and ‘Respect’ but not wisdom; they should speak with each other more frequently on their new council funded iPhones when they arrive to improve their English, though Cllr Oli ought to attend ESOL classes at nearby Tower Hamlets College, if nothing else! Cllr Carlo should reconsider acting as a career for he lacks the courage to join the Mayor’s cabinet. The whip hasn’t even the logical postulation to verbally reprimand Cllr Mark Frances let alone write a disciplinary warning letter which probably would have been issued had he changed his like and to, say, M.A.Salique!
George Lansbury must be turning in his grave.
sorry meant to say above “…had the latter (Mark) changed his name like and to M.A.Salique (useless ex-Labour cllr and unphotogenic, fake Oxford English speaking, monarchy loving mayor)!”
There’s a lot in here, some if incorrect i think, but it’s always struck me a bit weird that journalists should have special provision in a council chamber.
Why weird? At the risk of sounding pompous, but journalists are an important part of the democratic process. That’s why there are Press Galleries in both the Commons and the Lords, and special press desks in courts, public enquiries and council chambers. Why would you want to make their job difficult? I also know that some councillors can’t be bothered to perform unless journalists are there to see them. They ask themselves what’s the point otherwise. In any case, don’t you also think that it is simply poor public relations? What does Mr Sulaiman actually do for his £100k a year?
Independent press is important, should always have access to such important meetings. We can not just rely on the musing of LBTH founded rag which is not independent and may not report any controversial items.
Yes it is a bit pompous. We have parliament on tv. And we should by right have tv in courts. Councils should be on webcams.
But TV or web-streaming is never a replacement for actually being there and scanning the faces, body language and actions of everyone in the chamber, not just those who are speaking. Why would you want to deny reporters the chance to describe that to the wider world? Very odd logic.
Whether or not councils should be on webcam, how many assembly chambers have it installed already. In which case money will have to be spent on expensive installations and maintenance of a system – at a time when other services face major budget cuts.
Far cheaper to give Ted a press desk and a decent seat (nay, a throne 😉 in the gallery.
Come off it!
How about the importance of the role of the press in avoiding this country (and others) being corrupted by politicians (and others)?
The “tycoons” who would like to influence our lives and the politicians would dearly love to keep the newspapers out of their affairs. Some of them even go the trouble of buying up as many as possible in order to “massage” the news.
It’s the principle of the thing that matters. A Council which shows disrespect for the press – any press – is showing disrespect to its constituents and their need to know and understand how politicians conduct themselves in public.
Or would you rather none of the extremely stupid and infantile behaviour in the Tower Hamlets Council Chamber went unreported?
The million dollar question is whether you (Ted) and Andrew are journalist politician or supporter of Con/New Lab (Josh/Peter)?? You both are sharper than knife against some politicians, Businessman and officers, why?
Why you always look for special privilege? , there were BME journalist standing at the back, why can’t you do same if you can not come early.
You both wrote negatively against newspapers wrote positively about Lutfur but did you try to find out what happened to Bangla Mail, why are you silent on this? Why did you put Lutfur Expenses list but not Abbas’s one? Why always Siraj (at least he is TH residents and Carlo’s voter) but why not other one Bangla mail Editor (who may have business interest with some people but not residents), is there any hidden reasons?
If I was you, I would accept the reality and move on, people of Tower Hamlets know your views and game quite well and that has reflected quite well in last election.
There were like minded and decent community oriented councillors in both side and work together either formal or informal capacity, you may have listened Abdal saying he was pleased to see good colleague seating opposite and Tory’s are not in front him.
I guess the press have to arrive early in future and just sit in the front row while accepting the restructured seats throughout the council chamber including the public gallery! But where would Takki sit? Certainly not next to Ted! One possible solution to this press coverage crisis is to webcast LIVE (internet streaming). That way Takki can justify space management with transparency, and Ted can stay home those full council evenings and watch Eastenders simultaneously or when it gets boring!
correct me if i am politically incorrect but shouldn’t the heading read ‘…Wild East’, not West?!
As one of those living next to Victoria Park I’d like to express my hope the motion is taken seriously.
I and many of the other people who have complained about events where the crowds are still leaving at midnight having gone on all day are social housing tenants Old Ford HA has many properties here next to the park and it is an increasingly diverse community although it is fair to say once here people tend to stay.
According to the press Judas Priest are already booked for High Voltage 2011 the house bound pensioners next to the park must be delighted.
Cllr Joshua Peck should replace Cllr Helal U.Abbas as Labour’s group leader immediately because the latter has lost self-confidence, a Labour council and of course public support.
Come on Ted answer the question, has Peter Golds ever passed you any confidential members enquiries or documents? Have you ever received any confidential members enquiries or documents from other councillors?
Is it true Cllr Peter Golds has apparently been reported to the Standards Committee for breaching council confidentiality? And that he might have to resign very soon along with Cllr Salina Aktar who is under immense pressure over benefit fraud?
Expose News 1
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=16158
PETER GOLDS: VIOLENCE AT BRENT COUNCIL 30.10.1997
That this House deplores the attempt by Brent Conservative councillor Peter Golds OBE to strangle fellow Conservative councillor Jack Sayers following an argument about town twinning at Brent Town Hall on 27th October 1997 which resulted in Councillor Sayers receiving medical treatment for the injuries he sustained; notes that Councillor Peter Golds was honoured for ‘political services’ and that his violent behaviour is but the latest disgraceful example of yobbish and thuggish behaviour by Brent Conservative councillors; and calls upon the Conservative Party to expel Councillor Golds from membership and to hold an inquiry into the behaviour of the Brench Conservative group.
COMMENT DELETED
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Comments by “Ripa Begum” are being deleted because they breach my comments policy, which I have explained in previous posts.
“Ripa Begum” – I suggest you stick to one name. The following 15 names have been posted from your Be Un Limited IP address on this blog:
Fact&Fiction
TH Resident
E1 Resident
Shahid
Lena
Tony R
Ripa Begum
Betty
Real Kabour
Rayed
Vote King
Aktar
Laura
Junior
Joyce Williams
You have accused others of sock puppeteering. I suggest you look up the word irony.
This is your last chance; stick to one name otherwise I will mark your IP address as spam.
What is this, anyone standing in Lutfurs way, his army will come and damage you. People like Peter Golds is needed in this multicultyral Tower Hamlets to strangle and squeeze out the bad practices of elected councillors and mayors. bviously he has become a strong voice against Lutfur so the attacks. Anyway I have heard the Lutfurs friend Ken Livingstone has been trying to get back in the good books of labour by coming out to campaign in SBT, wonder why the Local Labour party rejected him 3 times. Maybe cos he could not get his friend Lutfur back into the Labour party, heard he tried in a last ditch attempt but the NEC Chair on Nov 30th Threw his motion out. Well MR Lutfur looks like your stuck on yuor own, oh no you do have Ohid by your side
Ripa Begum has changed names 16 times but has he/she changed it in real life like Labour’s group leader, Cllr Abbas, the only TH councillor out of a total of 51??? What an imposter!
I really think you need to go and get your own blog because you obviously have views which just need to be aired at every availably opportunity whether or not they are relevant to the topic on the blog you are commenting on.
Such energy needs an outlet!
You may think Abbas is a waste of space. I may think Abbas is a waste of space, we all may think Abbas is a waste of space – but it gets very tedious when you go on and on about it. I really don’t think you banging on about is going to make a jot of difference.
Why don’t you go and take a look at his expense claims and declarations of interest and see if you can find something of relevance to this post?
@Fighting4EdMiliband Your antennae really needs adjusting if you want to have any hope of a political future!
I do NOT have a “soft spot” for the current leader of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party. Want to read that sentence again so you “get it” this time?
Besides what on earth does having a “soft spot for a politician” actually mean? It all sounds very “girlie” to me! Is this the normal way you refer to politicians?
Lol
Imagine Labour’s mafia boss Ken Clark changing his name to Clark Kent, nobody will then believe he is Superman, whereas at present some people do, despite failing to ensure the council remained under a Labour mayor!
YCMIU. Thank you for suggestion for me to set up a blog but who needs another blog when Ted’s is the best platform to air your views. You may not find it strange calling male, elected politician by a surname they weren’t known by only a few years ago but the vast majority of British politicians would agree with me that that is not normal. Show me one male councillor or MP who has changed his surname. You can’t, because you just can’t make it up! Ted didn’t set up this blog so that politicians are vindicated but that they are criticised. You seem to have a soft spot for Cllr Uddin, sorry Cllr Abbas, I wonder why? Men don’t have maiden names in the UK just yet!
You mean as in Gideon Oliver Osborne who changed his name age 13 to George?
Still waiting for Mr Dan MacCurry, the self declared so-called Comms Officer of THLP, to respond to Anon’s rather interesting comments. I hope him and his insecure Labour colleagues don’t criticise BBC’s Stephen Sackur for welcoming Dr Mohammed Abdul Bari, chairman of Eastend London Mosk and Muslim Centre London on HARDtalk last night!
YCMIU. Show me just one male, elected politician who has changed their ‘surname’ in the UK. If you’re talking about changing forenames I can show you ex Cllr Abdus Salique who changed his name Mohammed Abdullah Salique for I guess religious reasons, but as an elected politician he didn’t change his surname which is the official token of identity in British democratic society.
I know you’re Googling but do please come back!
The problem is that council is now run by Lutfur and his thugs.
The IFE now control over a billion pounds of taxpayers money.
Unless Lutfur can be stopped we are likely to see the deeper islamization of our borough. Even though they are in a minority for now.
Please please please can this council be taken under control by central government. Its the only way we can save it.
[…] I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. The last full meeting of the Council was, judging by Ted’s account a veritable festival of in-fighting and ill-temper – including within Labour ranks. Maybe […]