There have been a couple of developments since I last wrote about the changes to ward names in Tower Hamlets. The deadline for public objections to the dropping of Banglatown from ‘Spitalfields and Banglatown’, and St Dunstan’s from the proposed new Stepney wards is on Monday.
Do please write to the Local Government Boundary Commission at reviews@lgbce.org.uk if you have strong views on either. I submitted my letter yesterday.
While dropping Banglatown was a Tory proposal (one I think they now regret), removing the name of St Dunstan was a Labour idea.
The current ward name is St Dunstan’s and Stepney Green. The final Labour proposal, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, is Stepney East and Stepney West.
However, I understand that Labour councillors had actually wanted to call one of the wards ‘St Dunstan’s and Shahjalal’. Shahjalal (named after Shah Jalal, who is credited with the spread of Islam in Bengal) is the name of the popular but rather ramshackle mosque in Duckett Street, which over the past few years has also been a centre of feuding over various management and funding arrangements.
It was only after a vote of the wider party hierarchy that they decided on no religious names at all.
All this seems to sum up what is wrong with politics in Tower Hamlets. The Tories objected to something that wasn’t that objectionable in a move that was bound to create tension and ill-feeling, while, at the same time, Labour councillors were trying to earn their vote-winning spurs with the leaders of a local mosque. And when wiser heads realised that the inclusion of Shahjalal might be a bit controversial, they went with the lowest common denominator solution by dropping St Dunstan’s as well.
Including St Dunstan’s is, I think, more about honouring 1,000 years of history in the area than favouring one religion over another.
After writing my last post on this subject, two of the Stepney ward councillors, Oliur Rahman and Abdal Ullah, have supported the idea of retaining the name of St Dunstan’s, so all credit to them. In fact, I’m told that Labour has now resubmitted its proposal and suggested naming the ward St Dunstan’s and Stepney East.
The East London Advertiser reports on this issue today, here. As far as I am aware, Mayor Lutfur Rahman hasn’t made any pronouncements; if so, it’s in stark contrast to his campaign to retain Banglatown…
In the meantime, the Rector of St Dunstan’s and All Saints Church, the Rev Trevor Critchlow, has written the following letter to the Commission:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Tower Hamlets Proposed Ward Name : Stepney East
I write to object to the proposed new name for our ward, Stepney East. The previous name of our ward was St Dunstan and Stepney Green, which it is now proposed be split into two new wards, Stepney East and West.
The removal of St Dunstan from the ward name is highly regrettable given that;
1. Dunstan (909-988 AD) was a real historical figure, Bishop of London (958-960 AD) and holder / owner of the Manor of Stepney.
2. Dunstan personally ordered that the wooden church of All Saints Stepney should be rebuilt in stone. That church was later named after him and is today known as St Dunstan and All Saints Stepney.
3. Dunstan became Archbishop of Canterbury (960 -978 AD) and after his death was canonised, becoming the most popular English Saint until the death of Thomas Becket (1170 AD)
4. The name of St Dunstan’s Church and the association of the name with the local area has existed for more than 1,000 years.
Given this important and significant historical connection I would like to propose the name of new ward should be;
St Dunstan and Stepney East
I would also like to be clear that I’m not claiming any special privilege for the church where I serve as Rector but rather I’m arguing for the retention of St Dunstan’s name on the basis of a substantial, important and ancient link.
Yours Faithfully
The Reverend Trevor F Critchlow
Rector of St Dunstan’s Stepney
Trial by Jeory 
I agree with the Rvrd.
You make a good case Ted, and I hope we can all apreciate the Reverends sentiments as well – and as a local heritage activist I cerainly do, however I think most are better served by ward names that relate to practicality and geography rather than sentiment – which is why I voted for Stepney East and West, and stand by it. If local residents want to pay homage to to rich tapestry of our borough they should visit and support the activities of their local church, mosque OR 18TH CENTURY MILL!
Although I do not represent St. Dunstans ward, I agree with the letter written to the commission by Rev Trevor Critchlow.
I believe sentimental value is very much important and should be utilised where possible to both retain, and raise the media and public profile of history. This church also serves as an integral landmark for the Stepney area.
As a former pupil of Sir John Cass Secondary school across the road, I have very fond memories of attending numerous church services at St. Dunstan’s church including the annual school founders day service. Therefore when I see the name St. Dunstan’s upon various election materials inclusive of ballot papers, it is a definitive reminder and association to this landmark church, and of course a warm reminiscence to my days in Cass. I am confident that this is also the case with many other local people whom have been pupils at Cass, as well as the generations of families that have lived in the immediate vicinity of this church. I have the strong view that the name St. Dunstan’s should remain, and the inclusion of either East of West, wherever the boundary finally is determined can identify the difference between the two. I sincerely hope that this is the final decision of the boundary commission.
Well said, Shahed. Have you put these views in a letter or email to the Commission?
Yes, have written to the boundary commission.
Indeed, here is the letter:
This St. Dunstan’s sideshow is a pathetic ruse to distract people from the real issue which is the retention (or not) of the name “Banglatown” in Spitalfields and make Labour appear reasonable on that issue, which they are not.
Bangladeshi politicians are putting on this risible show of support for a ‘Christian’ name (St. Dunstan’s) because they simplistically believe it will earn them brownie points at the Boundary Commission and somehow make their demands for “Banglatown” – a pejorative label which is genuinely racially divisive – appear reasonable or fair – which of course it isn’t.
The ridiculous about turn Ullah has made from his starting position of trying to get Stepney renamed after a mosque to a position where he is demanding it be named after a saint neatly reveals the shambolic and divisive Labour tactics in this borough. The timing of his change of heart appears to coincide closely with Lutfur launching his hysterical “Save Banglatown” campaign and Labour’s sudden eagerness to jump on his shabby bandwagon.
Ted, will you get it into your head that Banglatown IS objectionable? Would you support the Isle of Dogs ward, which must be the least Bangladeshi in the borough, being called White-town? Back in the past should there have been Jew-town and Irish-town wards? What do you say to the non-Bengali residents of Spitalfields that they live in a ward with a name that recognises one and only one racial community – then we wonder why non-Bengalis are completely turned off from the bun-fight that is internecine Tower Hamlets politics.
Firstly I agree 100% with the Rvd and really hope that they keep this historic name, equally I hope that they keep the Banglatown name. I think with Banglatown, giving the name and then taking it away, is what the issue is. Personally, I don’t think it should’ve been named Banglatown in the first place, but as its been named that, it now shouldn’t be taken away.
Ted, very disappointed that you don’t mention who in the labour party actually proposed the name ‘Stepney & Shahjalal’. Your headline is misleading, as it wasn’t ‘Labour wanted to rename a council ward after a mosque’. It was just one two-faced opportunist Cllr who proposed it. That Cllr is Abdal Ullah, who is pictured in the Advertiser article, now trying to suck up to the church and its members, after his bid to suck up to the shajalal mosque gang failed.
Thank god for all the sane labour party cllrs/members who voted that proposal down. This publicity seeking weasel is now seeking to take glory and limelight for a problem that he is responsible for creating. It was his idea to drop the name ‘St.Dunstans’ and replace it with ‘Shahjalal’. Very two faced for someone who is ment to be the ‘Chair of Labour Faith Network’ and wants to promote cohesion.
This is what I posted in your last post on this subject.
“Its a bit hypocritical of Cllr Abdal to now suddenly come out of the woodwork in support of keeping the name St.Dunstans, because as oldford1 states above “The original intention in Labour’s submission was to rename it Stepney East & Shahjalal.” The idea behind that name was suggested by none other than Cllr Abdal.
Initially he wanted to suck up to the gang at shahjalal mosque and the bengali community, majority of whom despise him for his two-faced attitude. Now that bid has failed he is sucking up to you and the readers of this blog, in suddenly coming out to support this proposal that you have put forward Ted.
If he was such a supporter in keeping the local historic ‘church name’ St.Dunstans as the ‘Chair of Labour Faith Network’, firstly he would not have proposed the renaming in the first place and secondly to date in none of his social networking sites has he proposed saving the St.Dunstans name. Instead I have seen posts on his facebook promoting the saving of the Banglatown name.
Glad the local party members voted it down his proposal.
A hypocrite and two faced limelight seeking glory hunter is what this Cllr is about.”
I’ve no doubt Ted’s reporting is as meticulous as ever, and as he says – Abdal’s proposal was to call it “St Dunstan’s and Shah Jalal”. I’ve known Abdal for years, and am sure this was his attempt to bring both of the wards significant communities together as only the Labour Party does.
I’ve taken no part in Labour’s decision making on this, but clearly other colleagues disagreed!
The Tearfund Survey in 2007 found that only 7% of the UK population considered themselves practicing Christians. Most churches have either been knocked down, converted into luxury flats or turned in creches for yummy mummy’s stopping for a cappuccino and gossip. Why not change the name?
Because this is Britain and it represents the destruction of the heritage of this nation.
I didn’t know St Dunstan’s had been either knocked down, turned into flats or turned into a creche-cum-cafe. I was under the distinct impression it was still a church. Clearly I’ll have to pay more attention next time I drive through Stepney.
Would you object to renaming ‘Spitalfields and Banglatown’ to ‘Spitalfields and Brick Lane Mosque’?
I have a lot of respect for Abdal. I consider him as a serious politician not the jokers who change colour more than a chameleon. If what Taj Miah is saying is true, it’s a serious error of judgment. Abdal should explain his position. Personally, I’d like a ward named after me. Any chameleons out there ready to lobby for me? Year’s supply of coconut oil up for grub to keep your skin silky.
I believe that in terms of geography, history and demographics it would be ideal to position the Spitalfields ward as a single member ward with a much tighter boundary than is current, and far tighter than that proposed in your document. The geographic and community core of this area is very much concentrated on the flow around Spitalfields Market – reaching down to Brick Lane in the east, north up to Shoreditch and south down towards Aldgate/Whitechapel and west to the gleaming offices of Bishopsgate and the City.
The market, the magnificent Christ Church, the Brick Lane Mosque (previously both a church and a synagogue) and popular historic landmark pubs such as the Commercial Tavern, Pride, Ten Bells, Water Poet and Golden Heart provide important geographical reference points and centres of activity that create a very special vibe and a strong sense of community. At its heart is the Market, surrounded by residences and commercial enterprises that, despite continuous change, have engendered a very special multicultural community. Once dominated by the sweatshops and curry houses, it is no longer the case, and for that reason I believe the name should revert to Spitalfields.
What was once wholly identified with immigration from the Indian sub-continent has changed dramatically in the past ten years or so. I have some sympathy with the original decision of Bengali activists to campaign for the Banglatown name. At the time in the nineties they had suffered for many years from prejudice, abuse and even violence. They sought to have much greater control over their environment and have succeeded in a magnificent way, to their credit, to take over the politics of the area. They not only control the council executive through the elected independent Mayor – but also control the opposition! The three leading contenders for election as MP for the area for the Respect Party, Labour Party and Conservatives in the 2010 election were all Bengali. The three councillors for the ward are all Bengali. The Tower Hamlets cabinet is wholly Bengali.
Therein lies the rub. So many of the non-Bengali residents actually feel disenfranchised as it appears that the bulk of the council activity, debates and policy making activity is geared solely to the interests – and internecine disputes – of the Bengali majority. Of course it is fair to say we live in a democracy and that it is up to those who have strong feelings to campaign and vote but in practical terms it is clear that under the current system, run by big party machines with faith- and ethnic-based group block voting practices that there will never be a serious opportunity for a minority ethnic independent council candidate to be elected.
This is a shame as this is a strong identifiable community with very active groups such as the Spitalfields Society, Spitalfields Community Group, Spitalfields Market Residents’ Association, St George Residents’ Association, Exchange Building Residents’ Association and the recently formed coalition SPIRE (Spitalfields Regeneration) group. All of these make representations, respond to consultations and play an active role in the life of the community. But all feel distinctly ignored and under-represented when it comes to the council making decisions about the future of the area.
There really is little to link this part of the borough with the vast area to the east of Brick Lane as proposed by the Mayor. Indeed if that were to happen, residents on this side of the borough would feel even more excluded and disenfranchised from the political process.
It is worth also making the point that the Bengali population in Spitalfields is dwindling both in number and as a % of the population. More dramatic though is the sea change in the cultural feel of the area. Brick Lane as a curry capital is declining at a rapid rate. A walk down the street and its surrounds will these days reveal many other nationalities and cultures expressed through cuisines: Swedish, Turkish, Jewish, Mexican, Thai, Syrian, Chinese, Moroccan, Italian, Ethiopian, Brazilian, Argentinean, Malaysian, Burmese, Greek, Spanish, Japanese and French are recent, thriving imports. Truly multicultural and a very different proposition than the nineties.
This is recognised too by the Brick Lane Restaurateurs Association as extensively quoted here:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/curry-houses-shut-as-vat-rise-takes-away-trade-in-worst-situation-brick-lane-has-ever-seen-8112814.html
Banglatown is also not a ‘used’ name. Bengali friends – including restaurant owners – and residents universally refer to the area as Brick Lane, not Banglatown. Virtually no restaurant uses the term Banglatown in its promotions, whether in print, in person or online. The book, the film – it’s ‘Brick Lane’, not Banglatown. The Mosque is the Brick Lane Mosque, not Banglatown. It is the Brick Lane Festival, the Brick Lane Market. Even the council’s own expensively procured tourist maps and information boards dotted around the area as permanent street furniture use Brick Lane and Spitalfields without any reference to Banglatown. Other prominent organisations and events such as the (Bengali-controlled) Spitalfields Small Business Association, the internationally-renowned Spitalfields Music Festival, charity Spitalfields Crypt or housing association Spitalfields Housing simply do not use the name. It was a political construct at a particular point of time and has no further need or purpose.
Don’t worry in wider England ‘whites’ are ‘swamping’ all the grounds.
You’re response to viewing the local area based on racial lines is offensive and derogatory.
I don’t think you would dare say the same thing about a pre-dominantly ‘black’ (ie. African or Afro-Caribbean) area like Brixton.
Democracy allows everyone to vote and stand for power – so then why don’t you come up with a candidate you like and back them – who’s stopping you? (Just yourself)
‘Banglatown’ is just a ward title. Why hasn’t it bothered you for 15 years and suddenly bothers you now?
You can’t just take a broad brush against all Bangladeshis just because they are aspiring to do well for themselves (after spending centuries being starved through colonialism, divided through the consequent wars, made refugees of, victims of climate change caused by our abuse of oil).
Where was Brick Lane before the Bangladeshis arrived – a place the ‘whites’ didn’t want to visit and looked down on. Now it’s doing well, on the back of the immigrants hard work it makes £Billions for the economy and you fail to recognise the part they play. Shame on you.
I don’t think a student holding a temporary part-time licence of a casual Sunday snack stall holds the same weight as a 4 generation family-owned and run restaurant on Brick Lane.
This isn’t a fly-by ethnic circus mate – these are people’s lives we’re talking about.
I don’t believe you write with the best interest of the local community in mind.
Just reading about St Dunstan’s in WW2 and its “East End Parson” – a Reverend French – is surely enough justification for the name to stay for at least one part of Stepney? Why are people so keen to get rid of this heritage – ‘Mickey’s Shelter’ at the London Fruit and Wool Exchange (a Stepney Borough Public Shelter) and ‘Old Flo’, sited on the Stifford Estate in Stepney, both now currently under threat?
Do these people (never local history groups, but groups like the ‘Brick Lane Restaurants Association’ and ‘ELBA’, who support the demolition of the Exchange) want us to forget this recent heritage so it can then be demolished for developers? Or sold off? Or hired out? This will profit a handful while the borough loses heritage that belongs to all.
St Dunstan’s, it seems, came to symbolise much of Stepney’s experience during WW2. Perhaps that is why in 1959, the name was chosen? You don’t have to be any religion do you to want to respect this heritage? Just weeks into the Blitz, Stepney, the heart of the “East End”, was featured in a Picture Post article with St Dunstan’s and the Rev. French, Rural Dean of Stepney, representing all:
http://www.memoryshop.org/memoryshop/prod_2362650-1940-Reverend-French-East-End-Parson-Stepney-London.html
And there is plenty more heritage relating to St Dunstan’s, in this piece on Spitalfields Life:
http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/08/05/vera-hullyer-parishioner-of-st-dunstans/
Click to access local-gov-boundary-commission-response.pdf
If Lutfur’s paid Axel £3000 of taxpayers money to write that in between his studying, he’s clearly not getting his money’s worth.
Lolita
I obviously haven’t explained myself properly – apologies.
“You’re response to viewing the local area based on racial lines is offensive and derogatory.” It is because it shouldn’t be viewed on racial lines that the monocultural term Banglatown should be removed.
“I don’t think you would dare say the same thing about a pre-dominantly ‘black’ (ie. African or Afro-Caribbean) area like Brixton.” Yes I would if it were relevant but it isn’t. Brixton is not called Afrotown/Afro-Caribbeantown.
“Democracy allows everyone to vote and stand for power – so then why don’t you come up with a candidate you like and back them – who’s stopping you? (Just yourself).” That is a fair point and all credit to the Bengalis for taking over Tower Hamlets council through sheer hard work. But the numbers game in a three councillr ward means the minority whites have no chance – just look the representation.
“‘Banglatown’ is just a ward title. Why hasn’t it bothered you for 15 years and suddenly bothers you now?” It is only now that there is a chance of correcting
an error of the nineties. the chance won’t come up agian for another generation.
“You can’t just take a broad brush against all Bangladeshis just because they are aspiring to do well for themselves (after spending centuries being starved through colonialism, divided through the consequent wars, made refugees of, victims of climate change caused by our abuse of oil).” I have a great deal of respect for Bengalis here.
“Where was Brick Lane before the Bangladeshis arrived – a place the ‘whites’ didn’t want to visit and looked down on. Now it’s doing well, on the back of the immigrants hard work it makes £Billions for the economy and you fail to recognise the part they play. Shame on you.” The Jews, French, Dutch, Germans likewise.
“I don’t think a student holding a temporary part-time licence of a casual Sunday snack stall holds the same weight as a 4 generation family-owned and run restaurant on Brick Lane.
This isn’t a fly-by ethnic circus mate – these are people’s lives we’re talking about.” Exactly – every one counts from whatever cultural background.
“I don’t believe you write with the best interest of the local community in mind.”
Oh yea I do – note the BC recommendations.
Lolita
“You’re response to viewing the local area based on racial lines is offensive and derogatory.” It is exactly because it shouldn’t be viewed on racial lines that I (and the Commission) feel Banglatown to be inappropriate.
The Brixton point is not relevant because a) I would dare and b) It is not called Afrotown or AfroCaribbeantown.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to change the name. getting angry before would have had no point.
All my other points stand, but if I may I would like to record my absolute admiration for the way the Bengali community, with all its factions, has taken over the council lock, stock and barrel, and shown the way to political power. All credit to them.
From speaking with local people and traders down Brick Lane only tonight, they said to me that ‘Banglatown’ simply represents their food and culture and is a positive acknowledgement of their part in helping their local economy. There appeared to be nothing sinister in its naming.
If Chinatown was recognised as a ward, I doubt people in central London would mind much. See, they value their local cultures and what it bring to the local area. (Rather than live in fear of the outsider and look down on others) Does Chinatown threaten you in the same way?
These people are not Indians, P*k*s, Bengalis – they are British-Bangladeshi.
If you think England was built on the back of ‘whites’ alone, you’re mistaken. There are ethnic groups in the UK who are the silent majority, people who have achieved a great deal and given a lot for this country, and if that means a tiny ward name recognises their part – good for them and good for this country.
Africans haven’t had a fair chance. Once they do, I am personally looking forward to a ‘Black’ Britain just like there was once a ‘white’ administrated India and Colonial Caribbean. . . B R I N G O N B L A C K B R I T A I N .
“Lolita”
Oh my – you truly are a very silly person aren’t you?
Almost too silly to speak to but I do so now out of sheer pity because either you aren’t very intelligent and are just doing the best you can or this is sheer ignorance and the result of the Tower Hamlets bubble and Russia Today rotting your brain and rendering you unable to comprehend the outside world.
The first thing that concerned me in your strange postings was your nickname – “Lolita”. I urge you to change it and this is why: I had heard of this slang word once before when attending a child protection seminar but I could not recall precisely what it meant so I looked it up on ‘Urban Dictionary’ and discovered that the word “Lolita” is a euphemistic internet search term for feminine child erotica, child porn, or barely legal adult porn. The origins of this are from the Vladimir Nabakov novel ”Lolita” which told the tale of a love affair between a middle aged man, Humbert, and his 12 year old stepdaughter, Lolita. It became a popular term in the 90’s when a demented seventeen year-old girl named Amy Fisher shot the wife of her middle-aged lover. Amy Fisher (no relation to Jenny Fisher) became known in the media as the “The Long Island Lolita”. However, since then the Internet came along and now the word tends to be most commonly associated with sexually ‘available’ pre-pubescent girls. I am therefore quite perplexed as to why you would choose this name for yourself unless it is just another manifestation of your utter ignorance and stupidity…let’s hope it’s that and nothing more sinister.
As for the content of your aggressive rants I feel compelled to highlight some of your more ridiculous comments through a desire to help you even though the natural response of any warm blooded creature is to laugh loudly in your face.
So let us now examine a few of those golden nuggets of wisdom nestling amidst your steaming, ordurous vituperations..
“Where was Brick Lane before the Bangladeshis arrived – a place the ‘whites’ didn’t want to visit and looked down on.”
Were you here before the Bangladeshis arrived? I presume not. Either you are claiming that there was another (unnamed) non-white community living around Brick Lane who were the population of the area or you are saying that nobody lived here at all in some sort of Year Zero scenario.
I think the only logical conclusion is that you just don’t have any idea what you are talking about and are just lashing out nonsensically rather like that android once played by Anthony Hopkins; spinning around furiously with foam flying out of its mouth. Far from being a place where “whites” didn’t want to visit it was a place where “whites” lived – as they still do today – in large numbers. Once upon a time, before the arrival of the Bangladeshis in large numbers after 1970, the area was populated by a mixture of various peoples of European heritage including Irish, Jewish, Russian, Italian, German and French not to mention a much celebrated population of native Englishmen and women known colloquially as “Cockneys” and over hundreds of years none of those groups felt the need to rename the area after themselves.
Secondly, when you say –
“I don’t think a student holding a temporary part-time licence of a casual Sunday snack stall holds the same weight as a 4 generation family-owned and run restaurant on Brick Lane.”
I would have to strongly disagree and even go so far as to say they carry MORE weight. Brick Lane is constantly changing and evolving. People move in and people move out. Bangladeshi people are in the process of moving out and I accept that this might be hard for you to accept. The Curry-houses are notorious for poor hygiene, dead mice, cockroaches and bad food. Muhib’s being given a closure notice is a good example of this filth. These restaurants you cling to are tatty, repeatedly flout licensing regulations, often sell bootleg wine, employ illegal touts, and lie about “reviews” they have supposedly received in bogus competitions. Thankfully, they are all closing down and no amount of indignancy on your part will stop this trend – perhaps it will speed it up! Just look at the vast crowds which come to Brick Lane each Sunday to eat the delicious, safe food served, as you say, by people holding temporary part-time licenses at casual snack stalls… and compare that to the dwindling numbers of people eating curries the rest of the week.
“If Chinatown was recognised as a ward, I doubt people in central London would mind much.”
You are just saying that ad actually have no idea at all. It would not surprise me if you had never been to Chinatown. Take it from someone who has and is familiar with the politics of Westminster City Council – I am sure the people of Westminster would mind.
Also, the Chinese immigrants who live in Chinatown are not the vanguard of some global project – they are just here to earn a living and live in peace and quiet – and they do that quite effectively without renaming anywhere.
“There are ethnic groups in the UK who are the silent majority.”
What an extraordinarily silly person you are! Are you living in a fantasy world? Maybe you can enlighten us as to which ethnic groups are this make-believe “silent majority” and were they are hiding? Presumably if this “majority” number in excess of the 50 million indigenous persons of the UK (which they must do) then they must be exceedingly good at keeping quiet to remain “silent” and unnoticed! Do they live under the ground like pixies in some hidden dimension or do they exist only on paper in a stack of reserve postal votes hidden somewhere at the LMC? Perhaps they are the same mysterious people who signed the (dis)Respect Party’s ‘We Want an Elected Mayor’ petition – who knows!
“Africans haven’t had a fair chance. Once they do, I am personally looking forward to a ‘Black’ Britain just like there was once a ‘white’ administrated India and Colonial Caribbean. . . B R I N G O N B L A C K B R I T A I N”
And now we get to the hub of the issue and your outright racial hatred towards the host people of this country – generous people who took you in and gave you homes and money and tried to educate your young when so-called ‘brothers’ of yours did their best to exterminate you.
Nobody is seeking to call this area Anglo-town and there is no justification in demanding it be called “Banglatown”. I note that the Labour Party’s online petition has just 127 names on it and the Mayor’s online petition only about 650. If Banglatown is really the “spiritual home” of Bangladeshi people in the UK and means so much then how come out of the 250,000 or so of them who mostly live in this borough, and whom THLP et al claim to represent can they only get 0.025% response?
I am sure that common sense shall prevail and the ward will be named simply “Spitalfields” as it always was for most of the past 900 years.
So Grave from your bit of:
“Also, the Chinese immigrants who live in Chinatown are not the vanguard of some global project – they are just here to earn a living and live in peace and quiet – and they do that quite effectively without renaming anywhere.”
Are we to take that us Bengali’s are the opposite of the Chinese in that we are not here to live quietly and in peace?
This is a boring – more interesting is that Ken Clarke will be running Labour’s selection process for a the Labour Mayoral candidate and councillor candidates. There’s no love lost between him and Rahman. Rahman will be seething at this news when he gets it (probably via this blog) as it means his strategy of getting ‘friendly’ council candidates selected will be strangled at birth.
Unpopular in Limehouse- Ken Clarke Retired Last year. Dont know what your on about.
Lolita- Good Call, very Passionate. Banglatown will be kept. no matter what,and everyone’s life will not drastically change, it will be just another day when the decision comes through
I wouldn’t be so sure, THR.
That loon Frankcom, who made his name writing Bangla-bashing posts on here and pseudo-pornographic stories about female Bengali councillors elsewhere, seems to have got the prestigious Spitalfields Society on board. These rich and powerful men have written about a hundred letters to the Boundary Commission for him.
Very surprised… I’d have thought they’d have a bit more sense about who to befriend and not touch him with a barge pole!
‘Lolita’ – “barely legal…demented…”
‘Nuff said.
“Tower hamlets resident.” People can be brought out of retirement. This will happen in THLP and “independent” heads will roll. And corrupt politicians can be retired by the electorate. You heard it here first!
Unpopular in Limehouse.
Ken Clarke is in a beach in the mediterraneadn. Alan Olive has replaced him,and its not the chair of Tower Hamlets Labour party who is responsible for selection as he stood down I am told.
lets see what happens.
Grave Maurice – I’m sure there’s a pub named after you some place nearby.
Bangladeshis didn’t ask to be colonised by a bunch of drunken ‘pirates’. If the ‘whites’ didn’t divide India (displacing, killing and starving millions of people, including Bangladeshis) and instead if they stayed in their miserable heartless country, then the Asians would have stayed in their country and we wouldn’t have any such issues. Instead the ‘whites’ continue their colonial rant and belittle the poor hard working minorities to make their egos larger, just like you continue to.
Africa and Asia was long educated before Europe. Europeans destroyed and pillaged all other cultures to give weight their own poor cultural credentials and in order to build what is now western Europe and America. Europeans continue to steal from other countries including all that oil from Iraq and Afghanistan that builds and runs the UK’s roads and continues to steal other natural resources which the UK itself lacks which they should not have no natural right to have.
Who needs the English language anyway – I can’t wait till Mandarin becomes the language of Administration. We’ll see how you like it when the tables turn….
Chinatown indeed.
*THUMBS UP*