Just a short post, but worthy of one in itself.
I asked Lutfur for his views on Labour’s selection of John Biggs for Tower Hamlets mayor next year.
Here’s his statement:
John has a lot of catching up to do, he’s been out of touch with Tower Hamlets politics for some fifteen years and a lot has changed. We’re yet to see if he can adapt to the radically different climate in local government.
Personally, I think he made his contribution in the nineties and I can’t see that he’s got anything new to offer.
I have always believed that the split with the Labour group was about values and principles. There are clear dividing lines between John and the progressive left and we’re hoping that’s what the campaign will focus on.
The people of Tower Hamlets need a radical progressive vision for the future and look forward to Labour abandoning their destructive policy of opposition, at any cost, that has seen them work hand in glove with the local Tories, at the expense of local people; and work with me to fight off Cameron-Osborne’s war on the poor and vulnerable.
So, as I predicted in my last post, he’ll portray Biggs as out of touch and policy ideas may well come into it (although how they influence people’s voting patterns is another question…).
UPDATE
John Biggs has made this reply on Twitter:
@TedJeory Residents don’t want to see politicians trading insults they want to know what we stand for. I Look forward to having that debate.
Trial by Jeory 
I’d love to hear Lutfur’s view of the Tories.
I had to get the most recent edition of the ‘NewSpeak Dictionary’ out to decipher some of the embedded code within this statement;
“a lot has changed” – the Bangladeshi community now feels empowered and is not prepared to take the retrograde step of sharing power/money/influence
“radically different climate” – the Labour Party Machine is no longer assured a victory when pitted against the religiously motivated electioneering organisation established by the IFE and its associated fifth-column of “Respect” members since 2008
“the progressive left” – the IFE/Respect caucus
“the people of Tower Hamlets” – the Bangladeshi community whom I serve
“radical progressive vision of the future” – a continuation of racially biased policies [which I have showcased] designed to further enrich and empower Muslims at the expense of non-Muslims
Bit of casual Islamophobia there…nice to see that’s alive and well eh
Predictable point of view from someone who has left much of Tower Hamlets without a voice. He seems to have overlooked the fact that Tower Hamlets is a central part of John Biggs GLA constituency and that it is difficult to find a more active political player within labour politics in the Borough. In John Biggs labour at least had a candidate capable of running a borough and someone who will do so in an honest and democratic manner.
Here here.
And that from a man who set up a 2 million pound slush fund for faith organisations, has spent £115,000 on a vanity office and £729,000 on special advisors none of whom could advise him not to give a reference to a sex fiend… And John is the one who is ‘out of touch’ ? Please.
If Tower Hamlets was controlled by Muslims/Bengali there would not still be the high numbers of Bangladeshi/Muslims living in poverty, over crowded, under achieving, unemployed, poor health etc etc. You closet racist/islamophobes need to understand just coz there is a Bengali/Muslim Mayor the issues faced by Bangladeshis/Muslim residents of Tower Hamlets has not changed and will not change soon due to the institutional racism that exists within most organisations. Why don’t you talk about that and try to get the organisations to address that?
Why must the debate turn to racism? The debate should be how good John Biggs will be for ALL the people ot LBTH. If “out of touch” means he will bring back to us honest, unbiased and fair council that sounds good to me.