Following a suggestion made on this blog, the leaders of the Lib Dems, Labour and Respect parties in the host Olympic borough of Tower Hamlets have joined Mayor Lutfur Rahman in writing to Lord Coe to ask him to drop Dow Chemical as a sponsor of the 2012 stadium.
Only Peter Golds, the Tory group leader, has declined to add his name. To have done so would have gone against his party whips at Westminster. I suspect his private views are like many others on this issue: incredulity that Coe has made such a pact.
Here is the joint letter, the first of its kind under Lutfur’s mayoralty.
Dear Lord Coe,
Re: Sponsorship of Olympic Games from Dow Chemical
As leaders of the political parties on Tower Hamlets council, we are writing to you to request that LOCOG reconsider the decision to accept sponsorship for the Olympic Games from Dow Chemical, which took over Union Carbide which was responsible for the appalling loss of life at the time of the explosion and bears some responsibility for the continuing suffering in Bhopal.
We find it strange that due diligence failed to establish that there is continuing anger and concern directed towards Dow Chemical as the successor company. We also find it difficult to believe that you were unaware of the strength of feeling locally and internationally over the issue.
Tower Hamlets is one of the host boroughs for the London Olympic Games, and we are delighted to be closely involved with what we hope will be an enormous success. Our borough is also as diverse as it is multi racial, with many strong political and cultural links to the Indian sub continent.
We all hope that in the light of widespread public concern and protest, that you insist that LOCOG revisits its decisions to allow Dow Chemical to sponsor the event as soon as is practically possible.
Trial by Jeory 
This is a boring storey. Getting politicians to sign a petition is pointless.
None0 of them care about this.
Isn’t this sort of issue of conscience something that would be worth defying the whip on? Peter Golds is a notable omission.
Also is it necessary for Rahman to have his picture on all official letters? I know cult of personalities are all the rage in UK politics (just look at Boris) but surely someone needs to have a word with the esteemed mayor about looking like an egomaniac.
Well done all, except for Peter Golds who should hang his head in shame. Is he really so weak willed and lacking moral backbone that he’d avoid signing for fear of displeasing party whips?
I won’t be holding my breath expecting Coe et al to take any note of Tower Hamlets, as they treated us with contempt when they took away from us our one Olympic event.
To “Dan” – this is a boring story? How heartless…and a petition pointless and the politicians don’t care? Wow, do you work for LOCOG or something?
Ted – thank you for the incredible work you have done writing and campaigning on the Dow Chemical London Olympics sponsorship scandal. You should get an award for this, you deserve it. Well done. You’re like the East End’s new John Pilger!
A very big insult to John Pilger with that comparison.
“Agob” – no insult was intended for anyone.
And you don’t think Ted deserves plaudits for what he has done and what he has achieved in writing about Dow Chemical? What have you done?