Following Lutfur Rahman’s election as mayor, former Labour cabinet members were offered the chance of continuing in their former portfolios as Opposition mouthpieces.
That was always going to prove problematic for some who privately supported Lutfur. The problem was always going to be greatest for Marc Francis, who many, with some credence, believe helped Lutfur’s winning campaign.
Two days ago, Marc, who last month agonised about whether to join Lutfur’s administration, had what he hopes will prove his Tower Hamlets-style Geoffrey Howe moment. It’s just ironic that he delivered it against someone whose charisma is closer to Howe’s than his.
Thus, this is email he sent to party colleagues at 6.15pm on Friday night:
Abbas
It is no secret that I was critical of a number of the decisions taken by Tower Hamlets Council during your previous four years as Labour’s Leader and sceptical when you became Group Leader again in May. However, at the encouragement of colleagues, I was willing to put those reservations to one side to serve in your interim administration and ensure Labour’s policies in the Housing, Heritage and Planning portfolio continued to be driven through to implementation.
Like many others, I was deeply concerned at the methods you used to secure Labour’s candidacy for the Mayoralty and the nature of that campaign. But I was even more disappointed by your lack of interest in housing issues during the five months you were the interim Council Leader, especially on the reforms we were introducing to leasehold services and the Choice Based Lettings scheme to help overcrowded families. I also very strongly disagree with the decision to put £2 million into the Rich Mix Centre and the way this was done.
However, it is actually the general sense of drift and negativity under your Leadership that I believe is even more damaging to the Labour Party in Tower Hamlets than individual actions. With the Coalition Government cutting the Council’s budget and our residents’ rights, it is essential Labour’s leaders in Tower Hamlets stand up and be counted. Instead of doing that, you and some of those around you seem incapable of focusing on anything other than your personal dispute with the Mayor.
This is borne out by yesterday’s disastrous result in the Spitalfields & Banglatown by-election. Our candidate, Abdul Alim, worked hard to win and the loss of this council seato to Respect is certainly no refection on him or the ordinary Labour party members who put so much into the campaign. but sometimes working hard is not enough, especially when polling on a bitterly cold day. We have to inspire people with a reason to go out and vote too.
From the residents I spoke to on the doorstep, there is clearly lingering unhappiness about the approach you have taken as Labour’s Leader locally. No doubt you will dispute this fact. But the result was unequivocal. And the responsibility to inspire any more than the 553 people (6.3 per cent of the electorate) to vote Labour in the ward you represent and which was one of our safest, must lie squarely with you. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but leaders have to take the rough with the smooth and the electorate has given Labour’s its clear message.
Labour Group decided last month to retain the previous Cabinet Members as spokespeople until other arrangements are agreed. I’m afraid, however, that I have completely lost confidence in your Leadership and cannot continue to serve in your “Shadow Cabinet”. I have waited until now to notify you because I did not want my resignation to become an issue in the election. Given yesterday’s dreadful result and that a decision how Labour Group will determine spokespeople appears to be some way off, I am resigning with immediate effect.
I am copying this email to members of Labour Group so there is no misunderstanding of the reasons for my decision.
Yours sincerely,
Marc
Abbas has dismissed it as “Marc making mischief”, but surely he must feel mauled by something more vicious than a dead sheep.
Marc’s comments about a lack of interest in housing are probably disingenuous, but there is little doubt that while Abbas is a good muckraker – a quality needed in Opposition – his days as Labour leader are numbered.
As one disgruntled Labour member said tonight, he is probably “toast”.
So who next? Abdal Ullah seems ready to declare himself and he would likely be more conciliatory towards Lutfur; Siraj Islam resembles a dead sheep more than Abbas; Motin uz-Zaman harmed his chances badly with his inept chairmanship of the last full council meeting; deputy leader Josh Peck would be the most effective opponent to Lutfur in the town hall chamber, but does he have broad support?; and Rachael Saunders also fancies her chances, but it is probably a move too soon?
Marc would, some believe, be the best of the lot…but he who wields the dagger….
UPDATE – Monday, December 20, 1.30pm
Forget not the name of the original “Housing Choice hate figure” David Edgar in the leadership bid: he’s a real heavyweight in Tower Hamlets Labour circles and although he was (still is?) close to Michael Keith before both lost their seats in 2006, he is largely untainted by recent factional politics. He could well be the calming and incisive influence Labour need.
Trial by Jeory 
I think Marc would be an excellent leader, but I’ll have to check with Jim before I commit myself to that comment.
More Geoff hoon than Geoffrey Howe.
What a dickhead.
Ted you’ve just wound up so many people, punting some names who aren’t remotely in the frame and ignoring those who are really going for it.
More to the point, there’s no election for months, a lot can change.
Marc made the right choice and im glad he psoke up Ted as someone whom supported Lutufr i can assure you Marc lent no support to Lutfur except tp stay out. His loyalty was to Labout he made that clear but at the same time he refused to support the imposed Labour Candidate.
Marc made the right choice and im glad he spoke up. Ted as someone whom supported Lutufr i can assure you Marc lent no support to Lutfurs campaign or win except to take neutral stand and stay out. His loyalty was to Labour he made that clear but at the same time he refused to support the imposed Labour Candidate.
I believe that Abdal Ullah is the best person for the job!
Has he resigned from the labour whip or just that of the shadow cabinet.
Well……..!
More like dead man walking…..This is a devastating blow to the leadership and politics of Abbas, but the net needs to be cast wider and people need to start asking about the factionalism within the Labour party and how it has become so corrosive, vengeful personality politics. The voters have spoken. Labour needs to wake up.
“I’m agreed, however, that I have completely lost confidence in your Leadership and cannot continue to serve in your “Shadow Cabinet”.”
Means…..?
….That Abbas isn’t the only leading light in the Labour Party who struggles with stringing a sentence together?
Shame he lacks the ability to articulate like Howe.
Ah, that was my fault. Sorry. Typo corrected: should have been, “I’m afraid…”
Shucks! 🙂
Splendid letter and early Xmas present by Cllr Marc Francis. Abbas must rephrase his response to ”Marc making MrChief” instead of ‘mischief’! How about Cllr Asad for Lab leader? The consequence will be actual suicides at at the Lab AGM! Cllr Motin UzZaman is as Ted says incapable of chairing a meeting let alone conflict managing a group of infighting adults! Cllr Abdal Ullah is the most irritating and insensitive member in the council chamber who once wanted to overturn the sepulcres (and resurrect Eastenders) in TH Cemetary. I would desert my Nom de plume and protest publicly against his candidacy with TH’s indigenous population. Cllrs Josh Peck and Rachel Saunders would further upset the electorate and alienate Bengali voters and leftwing supporters. Cllr Siraj Islam should give up taking sleeping pills! How about someone glamorous for a change, Cllr Amy Whitelock or Cllr Anna Flinch? Or even the unknowns Cllr Kosru Miah or Cllr A.M.Chunu? Or Cllr Lesley Pavitt?! Any other suggestions?!
“TH’s indigenous population”? What’s that – and why would they welcome you to protest publicly alongside them? Even plucked and plumeless.
TH Cemetery survives and does not need you to take to the streets to save it with “indigenous” residents.
Where were you (or your indigenous forebears) though when other cemeteries in the Borough were actually destroyed? The Queen Mary University in Mile End dug up thousands of bodies from early Jewish cemeteries, cleared the gravestones and put all the people into an unmarked pit in Brentwood. This only happened in the 1970’s. Where were your forebears then…or did they feel these indigenous Eastenders were not worth campaigning for?
‘Anna Flinch’? That’s funny! Rachael spelt wrong as well! I thought fighting4edmilliband was a cllr but this makes me think not. Well let’s hope they do select Abdal then we can find out for sure 😉
Really glad to hear that Marc Farncis has taken the stance he has. Under Abbas’s leadership the labour party has just disintegrated and unless they select a new leader the whole party will fall apart, which would be such a great shame.
As for Abdal Ullah taking the reins, it will be even a bigger disaster, as he is a true machevilion, changing his colours so often its hard to say what he believes in or who he really is. The only thing he cares about is advancing his career, at any cost. He needs to stop sitting on the fence and let us know what he truly believes in and not just say what he thinks people want to hear and then go and say the total opposite to another group of people.
As for Siraj Islam and Motin-uz-Zaman, they just have no real carisma or profile to take on such role and neither have the leadership qualities required.
Josh Peck & Racheal Saunders are just too tainted by whats happened recently with the party and neither will be able to lead the party without constant wranglings.
I genuinely think Marc Francis will be a great leader and hopefully over time will be able to reunite the party and work for the benefit of residents, whether that means working with the Mayor or opposing him when need be.
Marc has done a tremendous job with the housing portfolio and his expertise is needed at this difficult moment and the housing crisis.
Ted, not sure if you have heard Tower Hamlets Homes is axing 80 jobs after it privatised a number of its services, Repairs, Major Works and Decent Homes. They are also getting rid of all the Resident Engagement staff as well as staff in leasehold services, caretakers and rents. I’m surprised you haven’t covered that and neither have any of the other local press.
Wonder why there is this silence from the press in what is a major shake-up of one of the biggest housing association in the borough.
I suspect that will be a testing epoch. If Cllr Abdal Ullah thinks he can get away with his insensitive remarks about the Eastend’s loved ones without a visible objection, he is certainly deluded in his thinking. This little man hasn’t even the courage to challenge Abbas on, say, policy if not his frail leadership. How can he lead the biggest Opposition party in the council?! Besides, he is suspected by many as being planted in there by Respect-backed Mayor Lutfur Rahman whom he served in Cabinet with unquestionable loyalty during his leadership. Watch this chameleon’s next move!
Fighting4EdMiliband is Dan McCurry. Give up the sockpuppet, Mr McCurry.
The only person that thinks Abdal Ullah should be leader is Abdal Ullah.
‘Rachael Saunders fancies her chances’! Have you asked her Ted?
And Josh is far too sensible to take it on.
I’m pretty sure Marc realises that, even if he wanted to be leader, he simply doesn’t have the support. It’s also a bit of a myth that he’s he’s been so great with the housing portfolio. For example – spending millions on buying back right-to-buy properties (at the top of the market) that could’ve been far better spent on new build.
Looks Like Cllr Marc Francis was waiting to send the letter to the Labour party to stir up more trouble for the party, some of these councillors talk about unity and when it comes to actuially doing it they run the other way. Marc Quotes ” from the residents he spoke with”. Honestly he came out to canvass once, and did not see him having much of a conversation with any residents.
David Edgar perhaps tainted by recent factional politics in attending the ‘How Should the Labour Party Respond to Islamists’ debate at the House of Commons – hosted by Jim F. and Rachael S.?
No he didn’t – but his wife did!
Bill for Labour Leader!
Surely no one who opposes vicious personality politics could support Marc, the ultimate vendetta seeker. This resignation says little about any political change he wants to see, it’s a very personal attack on Abbas. Marc has made it impossible to have a proper discussion about the merits or otherwise of Rich Mix because his whole focus is a very personal one on what Denise did or didn’t do over S106 money. His claim that Abbas and co are the ones motivated by personality over Lutfur is a joke.
The fact that this chap Marc challenges Abbas for his lackings publicly is a good enough reason for him to lead the council’s Labour group and rescue the borough party from complete disaster. Others just talk but haven’t the courage to raise their voice against Abbas’ divisive leadership because they fear deselection by Labour’s mafia boss Ken Clarke. Thing to do is bring a no confidence motion in the next Labour group meeting against Cllr Abbas using the three factors listed below as possible reasons: 1. He has taken the Labour party into Opposition with his weak leadership and failure to secure mayoralty 2. He has failed to get support from his own ward party members to help elect Abdul Alim let alone persuade the local electorate in SBT. 3. Abbas getting the maximum support of less than 10% party members out of a total of 1,200 in the party’s mayoral selection is a major cause for concern let alone his failure to fight Torydem cuts to housing during his 6 month stint as a useless council leader who even cancelled public meetings so he could campaign for his mayoral election. Labour group cllrs should seriously consider Marc as leader against Abdal Ullah or Siraj Uddin or anyone else like Belle Turner!
How must it really get up your noses( lutfurites) to see Abbas lead the Labourr Party, and how they are trying every trick in the book to make Abbas look weak. The Local Labour Party will no vote in Cllr Francis for their Leader, I will not be surprised if Abbas was to lead again, you have to understand the guy is quality and he has lead teh party before for 4 years in a row,an achievement itself. Labour councillors will think whether to vote in a Lutfur supporter and get ruled indirectly by Lutfur or have a Loyal Labour Leader, that rules out people like, Abdal, Marc Franics, Shirya, Kobir,shahed,Siraj. Lets just wait and see.
and fighting for Milliband, please change your name to Fighting for Lutfur( too see how he siphons money to his dodgy mates)
people do not be surprised if Channel S is seen with a lavish Building in Tower Hamlets, I am told they are after a big building in TH on a knock down price from our Community Mayor.
Very unlikely. Nobody is saying that Marc isn’t talented he is. But he doesn’t command any sort of widespread respect within the Labour Group and after his latest vanity project will be even less likely to be a) selected in 2014 and b) group leader. There is a difference between being talented and being respected in my opinion.
Lots of people take the piss out of Bill but he is really talented and actually cares about local government when many of his colleagues one or two of them bussed in from god knows where use local government as a stepping stone to something else. David Edgar or Denise Jones would be the best choice to steady the boat; both have ‘pasts’ but neither of them is incompetent and both of them more reasonable tested alternatives than other contenders.
Rachel and Josh more than capable, Josh by far the most capable person in group in my opinoin but would the borough party accept their leadership? You might as well stick with Abbas because the ill-feeling in the ‘community’ won’t change a jot.
Abdal represents a clean break with the past, yes he’s ambitious but there isn’t anything wrong with that. The fact that people claim not to know what he stands for sort of means he’s a good politician. Where are all the other young Cllrs? Hardly leadership material if they lurk in the shadows whilst HMS THLP goes belly up!
So that Leaves Edgar Jones and Ullah!
Talking of being ‘bussed in’ How long had Bill lived in LBTH before he was selected? Err, about a month.
Therd’d be no shortage of candidates so first things first: a secret ballot by all Lab cllrs for a ‘no confidence’ motion against Cllr Abbas. That’ll demonstrate how many cllrs want him to step down and set the rebellion in the right pace! How about Cllr Abdul Mukit Chunu MBE as Lab leader? He’s the only guy whom our beloved Queen has approved!
There are at least two shameless cllrs in TH at present who do not want to step down: Abbas and Aktar, both from Spitalfields and Bengalitown. £35,000 together ain’t bad is it for changing surnames?!
times that by 4 years!
Fighting for Milliband, Hows the communty mayor getting along, with his new flashy phones amd dodgy business mates. havent heard any big contracts going out. The way your going on, maybe your up for one aswell.
suggest you try for the BrickLane Mela, oh no Yuor friend Siraj hoque is getting that one.
How ever much lutfur and his cronies,clowns scream to change the leadership, even if it chnages it wont change to your hands.
Mr AMD, you appear to be offended. Little do you realise I am critical of all politicians including Galloway’s pet Lutfur unlike yourself who probably get free cans of Whiskas cat food from ex Cllr Michael Keith’s poodle, Cllr Uddin, sorry, Abbas!
@ by TH Sauce about a month longer than some other people. At least we ‘bussed’ bill in on a number 8 and not in from the shires. Oh and I don’t think Bill was knocking anybody off at the time that might have helped him get selected He has worked in TH/ had dealings with TH for many years before that in a proper real Job btw.
Of course we are offended, when people talk out of their backsides and comment on everything on a blog ,like they are the Tower Hamlets Political knowledge book or something. You make false claims and absurd assumptions and predicions. Do us a favour stop yuor ranting and talk about the facts,not the fiction that goes through your head mate
TH Labour politics finished. Oona can not forget Abbas, she would have been a minister in last government than what HA done to his longstanding loyal friend Lutfur, who is next? Rush may be, anyway she deserve it what she has done to Lutfur. HA and co very cleverly pushing all political grime over to Rush’s shoulder so hat times comes in HA can give another try. Its clear community is very angry on Labour, hope Labour learnt lesson from SBT bi-election. Alim is a good guy and tried his best; Labour probably wouldn’t be able to stand if it was any old poisonous candidate. Alim is very good at engaging Lutfur people; he captured some votes by attending and praising Lutfur at his reception. LR and OA instructed not work for no one and that eventually went in favour of Alim. HA, JP, PG and their temporary (until the next selection) boss Rush should take responsibility for this defeat.
Mr AMD, You now sound disturbed. Please visit either counsellor your idol Abbas is seeing (MK/JP), they can most certainly shed further darkness into your dark world of virtual insanity and cognitive deficiencies. Better still, evacuate yourself from TH blogosphere, you appear extremely incapable of handling the heat!
Marc said he would not be running for Labour Group Leadership.