Lutfur and Ohid, the Laurel and Hardy of Tower Hamlets politics, have fallen out.
In happier times, they were in separable: you couldn’t turn a page of a local paper without the pair standing arm in arm, smiling lovingly at each other and their ever-ready cameras.
Back in the day, Ohid Ahmed, a regeneration “expert” who knows how to make a good cut from a deal, was Lutfur’s campaign manager, a man whose lap-dog loyalty and ugly and unintelligible heckling, was then rewarded with the post of Deputy Mayor.
For a year, the partnership worked: Lutfur got his Mercedes, Ohid was given a bigger office and kidded himself he had executive powers.
However, reality always bites back.
I’ve heard rumours that they’d fallen out for a few weeks but I’ve now heard it from a broad enough range of sources to believe it is true. It is the talk of the town hall and everyone has their theory. Some think Ohid has not been given enough money (Labour used their majority to cut his special responsibility allowance salary to a mere £15,500) and is desperate for funds to renew the lease on his chunky watch; while others are convinced they’ve had some kind of Brown/Blair falling out over who does what next.
Some think Ohid is desperate to become an MP. As a Labour candidate, he was laughed out of West Suffolk in 2010 but his ambition still outweighs his talent and he could be looking for a way back into Labour to find a seat elsewhere. So the theory goes.
Another theory, which I think is far more interesting, is that Ohid is ambitious for the Mayoralty and that he’s been trying to push Lutfur to stand as an MP for Bethnal Green and Bow. Now, we know for sure, that Lutfur did fancy himself as an MP once upon a time. He could stand in Bethnal Green and Bow as an independent and stand a chance, a la Galloway. Alternatively, if Labour let him back in, he could win their selection process.
But the problem is that the General Election will be in May 2015, a full year after the next Mayoral elections. I think that now he has a taste for how much power he actually has as Mayor, Lutfur would be very reluctant to give the job up in 2014. However, what if Lutfur were to stand for the Mayor again in 2014 and then decide he has enough support to run as an MP a year later? If Lutfur were elected to Parliament, he would have to give up his town hall post. Who would be Mayor then?
Well, his deputy would hold the fort and although I haven’t yet checked this, I’m fairly sure the law would require a new Mayoral election. And if that is the case, such an election would be held on a day when no other votes were taking place….and we all know what happened last time that happened: a low turnout and Lutfur crowned.
In fact, that is probably Ohid’s only chance of creeping in. But the problem is that Ohid would have to be Lutfur’s candidate. And as we know, Lutfur has found a New Best Friend in postal vote king G(h)ulam Robbani…
Thieves always fall out…
“Thieves always fall out…”
No they don’t. Look at bankers.
It’s a bit like saying “where there’s smoke there’s fire.” Not always – if you keep saying a falsehood often enough some people will always believe you.
Please let me know of any convictions of Ohid, Lutfur or Ghulam for theft. Haven’t seen them in police or court reports – or the local press. Nor on Google.
Otherwise you are clearly libelling these guys. The theft allegation is different in form from wit or policy arguments.
Perhaps you should use the word ‘allegedly’ a bit more often.
Oh come now, David, I know it’s early, but where’s the sense of humour and context? It’s a colloquialism: they stole the Mayoralty, they robbed the voters, their self-aggrandising largesse is nicking from the taxpayers.
If I’d meant criminal theft, you as sure as hell wouldn’t have read it on this blog first. (And on a point of libel law, you should know that putting the word allegedly in front of a libel does not mitigate the damage.)
Allegedly.
Would Lutfur have to resign if he wanted to be MP as well as Mayor. I seem to remember Ken Livingstone being Mayor of London from May 2000 but remaining the MP for Brent East until June 2001. Given Galloway’s abysmal attendance record at the Commons and the people of Bethnal Green & Bow’s obviously low expectations of an MP, there is nothing stopping the “international network” which I am told* commands and controls Lutfur from re-programming him to hold down both jobs.
Ohid and Lutfur are not like Laurel and Hardie. That is being over generous to Ohid who has all the charm and charisma of one of last year’s potatoes I think Ohid is much more like that short, old bald bloke in The Benny Hill Show (but a little but more mentally impaired) who was constantly and repetitively being slapped and patted on the head by Benny…
“You’re a racist, and so is he”
“Pat pat pat pat pat slap slap slap…get in the van Ohid”
As for the “thieves” analogy watch out because DD has a bit of a soft spot for Lutfur. However I think Lutfur/IFE did steal the mayoralty both from Labour and the 87% of people who did not vote for him so I am not affronted by the thieves analogy, although there is honour among thieves so perhaps it’s a bit harsh on our much maligned thieves who are rapidly running out of things to nick.
Lutfur’s army put a lovely flier through my door the other day which I have doodled on thus giving Robanni a nice hook, a big gap in his teeth and an eye patch… Lutfur next to him is behind a ship’s wheel wearing a pirate’s hat with a parrot on his shoulder. These additions handsomely compliments that well rehearsed gum-sucking middle-distance “visionary” stare that he is trying so hard to pull off but which actually makes him look more like a street dealing wide-boy trying to hold his cool in an argument with a hooker over the alleged size of his manhood.
There, that’s all the positive words I can summon on politics this morning…
*Another councillor told me whom I will keep anonymous.
Yes James I do have a soft spot for Lutur, as I do for all TH politicians, and those who write about them. Where else would I get my entertainment from?
Looks to me like Ohid was the victim of middle class racism in Suffolk. Sizeable proportion switched from Lab to Lib.
That’s quite a statement – and possibly rather prejudiced in more than one way.
Perhaps they just heard Ohid speak. Have you, Tom?
Ted, it seems like you have something personal against Ohid otherwise why make fun of someone just because they don’t speak good English as you do. Surely intelligence is not just hbased on language?
Ohid is an intelligent and a smart politician, he may not be the best speaking politician in TH but for Ohid to get a chance to stand as a parliamentary candidate and to also become the deputy Mayor proves his politically ability and smartness.
Lutfur is just ineffective and is only interested in self publicity and showing up at every event.
No, but the ability to communicate with people in English is fairly important, wouldn’t you say? Kind of crucial, really. He may be able to get away with it in Tower Hamlets, but in the big wide world most voters don’t understand Bengali. My opnion of him changed the day of the closing ceremony in Beijing: it was being screened in Victoria Park. The turnout was well below what the council had been expecting and only about 50 people or so were there. True to form, the council had also set a VIP tent and a small garden pitch for councillors to eat free food and look like the important people they are. Given the turnout, it was a pathetic sight. Ohid didn’t leave that tent, didn’t mingle with people once. He was just there for the show and the free food.
Resident H is Ohid Ahmed and I claim my five pounds.
Anon 1 and Wise Owl of Wiltshire is Alibor Choudhury, Lutfur’s henchman and side kick.
Suffolk (apart possibly from Ipswich) is the sort of area that will vote in a monkey with a blue rosette. (NB That is slang and not to be taken as any sort of racial slur).
People may have switched from Lab to Lib – as they did across the whole country in 2010 – but I don’t think that would have made a blind bit of difference to Ohid’s chances of getting in.
I understand from a good source our humble Mayor is discussing a reshuffle. Apparently Ohid is going to be booted out of cabinet. Four main reasons: 1) sheer incompetence and inability to manage his brief, 2) constant moaning about NOT getting enough media attention and interference in EEL, 3) irritating Lutfur about being treated as the mayor’s equal
Interesting times ahead wouldn’t you say Ted!?
Hi Ted
I would like to correct your line of thinking and tell you exactly what has been happening over the last few months in particular.
You are wrong to state that Ohid and Lutfur have fallen out but YES they have had THEIR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION on major issues that are affecting both the Council and residents.
We all know Ohid’s strong track record as a Councillor and that he was both Chair of Labour Friends of Bangladesh and Labour Friends of Somali – both which have become very dormant since the Labour party expelled him and others that supported Lutfur to become the Mayoral candidate.
One thing that you and others forget to mention that Ohid is a selfless person and will do anything to fight injustice. We all know that he has the greatest to lose when he decided to back Lutfur as he was on the ONLY councillor supporting Lutfur that the Labour party had any time for. His track record in the party only speaks for itself!
Now coming on to Ohid’s and Lutfur’s DIFFERENCE in OPINION. Recently as we all know and those that bother attending the public Cabinet meetings is that Ohid has been 100% against privatising any Council services. Only a few weeks ago the Mayor formally decided to outsource the IT associated services to a private company. Keeping in line with Labour policy on anti-privatisation of public services…. yes you’ve guessed it Ohid was very local at the Cabinet meeting and has never hidden the fact that he was against any type of privatisation.
Another issue that has been bugging Ohid is the fact (again this is all in the public domain) that at Cabinet the Mayor decided to locate the waste treatment facility in Leven Rd which is in his ward. As an effective Ward Councillor Ohid voiced his concerns quite openly as rightfully so non of his constituents are in favour of this move. I DON’T THIS QUITE means they have FALLEN OUT.
You may recall that Ohid is a finance expert and even before the Mayoralty of Lutfur Rahman he ensured and delivered on the Council’s first 0% increase in Council Tax. He is well respected by the ALL Directors. Remember that Lutfur has many paid advisers to help him in his day to day affairs. You need to now ask how many advisers does Ohid have? Well the answer is very clear that is he has NONE as he is competent enough to do the job without them!
Finally, you always put Ohid down on his accent…I think this is really unfair….have you ever heard the current Acting Chief Executive speak? You think Ohid is bad at public speaking then you need to listen to how Aman speaks!!!!
Is this a spoof?
Jesus H Christ. I may have been wrong. Or do the Resident H and Mark’s IPs match?
No.
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Anon 1 (Mr Privitisation aka Alibor Choudhury) you can stop pretending to use alias names in this blog. Be a real man (as you claim) and just come out with your intentions. Everyone in the Town Hall knows your ambitions! In the past rumour was that Cllr Maium was famed for carrying Lutfurs bags around…but in real fact its you.
We ALL know that Ohid and Lutfur do NOT have any problems with each other and its elements such as yourself is trying to make this a headline. Ohid id PROPER POLITICAL MATERIALS SO JUST GET OVER IT!!!!
Do remember have you got into politics into first place by getting into bed with Micheal Keith or have you forgotten? This was at the time when you were very anti-Lutfur and batting for the other side!!!!!
Coming back to James F comments above, Anin 1 is much more like that short, old bald bloke in The Benny Hill Show who was constantly and repetitively being slapped and patted on the head by Benny…
“Pat pat pat pat pat slap slap slap…get in the van Anon 1”
Whats that saying…Leopards never change their spots.