President Lutfur Rahman, the Boy from Bow, the community organiser who inspires the streets of Spitalfields, gave his State of the Union address at Canary Wharf earlier this month. It was so good, the whooping crowd immediately reached for their pockets and gave him £56,000.
Who says beggars can’t be choosers!
Here’s what His Martyrship had to say:
Good evening everyone. I am honoured to be here tonight to report back to you on my three years as Mayor of Tower Hamlets.
Before I do, I want to thank everyone who has been part of that journey – my councillors and colleagues; my friends and supporters from across the spectrum in Tower Hamlets; the community groups and faith organisations that are the backbone of our public life; everyone on my team who has worked so hard to deliver the change that the people of Tower Hamlets voted for and that the people of Tower Hamlets deserve.
I do not wish to talk much about what we’ve done; Instead I want to focus on what we’re going to do. But before I do there is one question I’d like to answer that I’ve been asked again and again:
How has this administration has delivered so much when everyone else is cutting services, and where do we find the money when we’ve seen £130m in cuts in just three years?
I’ll tell you:
While others have simply been slashing services, we’ve been transforming the Council from the ground up; challenging old and inefficient ways of doing things; shifting our resources to better serve our residents; working tirelessly to find out what our community truly needs; pushing the Council to respond and effectively wherever those needs are not met; either by improving existing services; or by introducing radical new policies that nobody else in the UK has the courage or the imagination to implement.
But all our achievements take place against a backdrop of massive government cuts; of welfare reforms that are throwing up huge social challenges; of a stagnant economy and a growing gap between rich and poor.
There is also the sad fact that some in the main political parties locally have refused to accept reality; by hook or by crook they seem determined to stop us from delivering; determined to take the path of opposition for its own sake; and determined to use the most divisive and destructive tactics to bring this community to a grinding halt.
But you rejected them in 2010 and they will not succeed in 2014 because they belong to the old world of factional and divisive
politics. They have nothing positive to offer the people of Tower Hamlets.
So this is the challenge:
Delivering lasting change in a time of austerity; protecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Britain; yet also unleashing the talent and aspirations of local people so that they can be active participants in the improvement of Tower Hamlets, not just onlookers.
It is a big task; but I have three core principles that have guided me throughout my time in politics:
First and foremost I believe in the talent and the ambition of our community. Our people, especially our young people, are our greatest asset.
Secondly, I believe in the unique spirit of tolerance and togetherness that characterises the East End; where hundreds of years
of immigration and the historic pressures of deprivation have forged a strong local identity.
You just need to look at the list of tonight’s speakers to see how people of every different background can be brought together by shared values and a shared love of the place we call home.
Finally, I believe that our location gives us the leverage to negotiate hard on behalf of local people. Negotiate with the developers who want to build on our land and the multi-national corporations that bring so much wealth into Canary Wharf.
With these three assets, I know that real and lasting change can be delivered; we can harness the talent in our midst; we can embrace all the creativity that diversity brings and we can make sure that big businesses and developers are delivering for the whole community.
Let them make their profit – I have no problem with that – but only if the community profits as well!
In four months you will have a clear choice:
On the one hand there are those that want to take Tower Hamlets back to the 1980s: unequal, unfair and economically stagnant; divided along lines of class and race.
On the other there is an administration with a proven track record of implementing radical policies; of coming up with solutions to emerging
problems like the welfare reforms and of successfully planning and delivering the big projects that will change the face of the borough forever.
But the mayoral model is as much about personal accountability as it is about the big vision. So I want to tell you why I went into politics and why I’ve fought so hard- and yes! I have had to fight hard.
My path in politics has not been a conventional one.
But ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades; I’m glad that I am an unconventional politician; I’m glad I’m not a careerist, an apparatchik or a party man because there are plenty of conventional politicians up for election in Tower Hamlets;
There are plenty of very ordinary candidates with very ordinary ideas; but Tower Hamlets is an extraordinary place. Over the years, the East End has produced some political giants; independent thinkers and social reformers.
These are the unconventional politicians from whom I draw my inspiration and whose example has given me the strength to fight on
for the all the people of this borough.
Why?
Quite simply, because Tower Hamlets is my home; this community is my community, it is in my blood; it is in my veins.
I’ve come to know every street and corner, every nook and cranny from Banglatown to Bow to the Island.
And everywhere, white, black or brown, I see the same huge potential and the same crushing need.
My heart bleeds when I see families living five-to-a room; when I see young people led astray by drugs and crime or our elderly people
robbed of their dignity and independence.
In the shadow of the glittering towers and untold billions of Canary Wharf, such suffering is absurd, and I’m sure it doesn’t take much to imagine a Tower Hamlets where a generation of children grow up in housing that is fit for their needs; where they attend the best schools in the world and go on to jobs that allow them to fulfil their potential; where they bring up their families in the safest, cleanest borough; and where they are not just residents, but neighbours; connected to each other by bonds of care and trust that ensure everyone’s needs are met and nobody is left behind.
That is my vision.
It has sustained me through the difficult points in my “unconventional” career because each day I know that we are working hard towards that future for our children and mine.
I have done my best over the last three years as Mayor, and before that for two years as leader, to deliver that vision. While the foundations are laid, the true transformation of Tower Hamlets needs to be driven home.
That’s why I’m running again, because the job is only half done.
I know that all of you here share the vision for a better Tower Hamlets and in a few months’ time, I hope to stand in front of you and say that we have four more years to deliver it.
Until then, lets work hard, and lets show the people of this borough that we’re on their side; and that my team and I have the passion and
dedication to keep putting Tower Hamlets First.
Trial by Jeory 
Wow!! Sounds like he has been getting tips from President Bartlett in The West Wing. Which of course would make it all fiction.
Join the facebook group “Tower hamlets Votes” to help raise awareness of the election. We are a group of local people working to see a much better turnout on May 22nd!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/THamletsvotes/
He has nailed is colours to the mast and given Jon Biggs the ammunition needed to take him apart. Eeehr no! It will still be decided by bought blocks of votes and unless Biggs turns out the anti Lutfur vote e will lose.
“But the mayoral model is as much about personal accountability as it is about the big vision.”
Priceless.
It will be interesting to see where the far left stand on this as his stated programme is exactly what Michael Meacher and Jon Landesman supported last time. Can we expect to see the remains of Respect, John Rees and Lindsey German on the doorsteps. What will Ken Livingstone do? Can he afford to pass up a platform like this? All London is agog!
So he actually does speak English…
He never wrote that. An expensive team of speech writers did – I wonder if the Mugs of the LBTH are, somehow, paying for it ???
Curious Cat.
The man is clearly deluded.
“I’ve come to know every street and corner, every nook and cranny from Banglatown to Bow to the Island.” He missed “With my chauffeur”.
That is all.
Cheer up, Graham. The Labour mayor in Lewisham is still using his! #glasshouses
What was the point of this post? If you support Rahman just say so rather than pointing to other boroughs and what Labour does there.
The Rahman speech was certainly written for him and might have been the last effort of Mark Seddon. It’s too polished to be the work of either of the Landins.
I think Bullock’s car costs £2500 a year.
Does he use it top pick up his dry cleaning?
A great speech delivered with passion and pride by a great leader. The man is a messiah!
I will be working tirelessly to get the voters out on election day to vote for…..Biggs. Otherwise it’ll be an embarrassing landslide from which Biggsy may never recover.
The truth is, the Mayoral election is a foregone conclusion. The only unknown is how well will TH First do and how may Labour Councillors will defect after the election?
If Rahman is presidential now, he’ll be an emperor after the election.
Imran,
Genuinely curious – you say the election is a foregone conclusion and suggest that Rahman will win again. Am I understanding you correctly? And, if so, on what basis do you say this?
Tim.
The stats are stacked against Biggs. Lutfur doesn’t need dead voters to turn up, just all the Bangladeshi uncles and unties would be enough.
Based on the assumptions below for 100,000 voters in TH, I’ve worked out Rahman would get 24,790 votes and John Biggs only 13,325.
White British make up 45% of the population of which 20% are active voters. 90% of them vote for Biggs and 1% vote for Rahman.
Bangladeshi make up 35% of the population of which 80% are active voters. 15% of them vote for Biggs and 80% vote for Rahman.
Others – Non Muslim make up 15% of the population of which 10% are active voters. 60% vote for Biggs and 20% vote for Rahman.
Others – Muslim make up 5% of the population of which 50% are active voters. 5% vote for Biggs and 80% vote for Rahman.
It’s hard to see how Biggs can win, there will have to be a 50% plus turnout of the white British voters and 90% plus of them will need to vote for him. He also will needs to get at least 15% of the Bengali vote and 60% of the other non-Muslim vote.
Hope I don’t get morality lesson on my assumptions, just trying to prove a point. My assumptions my be way off target would be interested in what you or others thik.
Enjoy playing with the numbers.
“And everywhere, white, black or brown, I see the same huge potential ”
Is this the same Mayor whose entire mayoral team are brown muslims? In a borough that is only 35% muslims, is there a single non-muslim (black or white or brown) on his mayoral team? If not, then it doesn’t suggest he sees potential in non-muslims.
“I believe in the unique spirit of tolerance and togetherness that characterises the East End; where hundreds of years of immigration and the historic pressures of deprivation have forged a strong local identity.”
It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. Tolerance is a two-way street.
During his reign, gangs of muslims declared the area a Gay Free Zone. As is usual, the police prosecuted just 1 token individual from the many involved, and that tokent got a slap on the wrist (no trace of a “hate crime” prosecution there). http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/05/11/man-who-put-up-gay-free-zone-posters-in-london-jailed-over-al-qaida-material/ That one Bengali was then later prosecuted for terrorism offences. Such tolerance. The Telegraph’s gay correspondent, Graeme Archer recently came out — not as gay, but as admitting that the Gay Free Zone was the last straw and along with homophobic attacks had driven him and his partner from east London. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10404839/There-was-a-conspiracy-behind-immigration-our-do-gooding-silence.html
Last year I went to Tower Hamlets to eavesdrop on a meeting of leftwingers, only to hear one muslim (with 30 years of political activism) bemoaning that the police stood by and allowed 1000s of muslims from East London Mosque attack a small group of muslims having a demonstration in Aldgate for a secular Bangladesh. That muslim activist told the meeting that the police have delegated control of the streets to the mosques, and in return the police protect islam from criticism. The natural consequence of that, is muslims going round doing their “sharia patrols”.
In the 1990s, Tower Hamlets had almost 20 gay bars and clubs. Now it has 3. Two of them are built like fortresses, and are left alone. The one that isn’t has had gangs of muslims attacking the customers and leaving them paralysed on the streets of Tower Hamlets. Again, the police prosecuted a token individual, and the rest of the gang were left to strike again. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/a-brush-with-death-why-britains-coolest-art-and-fashion-names-have-rallied-around-a-victim-of-random-knife-crime-1778125.html No other area of London has seen gay people driven out, the way they have been driven out of Tower Hamlets.
East London Mosque continues to invite homophobic preachers, all the while telling people it has changed. The latest case was even last week bemoaned by the Cheshire Cat’s tame Rainbow Hamlets. http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/rainbow_hamlets_criticises_east_london_mosque_for_defending_homophobe_1_3257896
Lutfur’s tame Rainbow Hamlets helped destroy the East End Gay Pride created in response to the area being declared a Gay Free Zone. I’ve been told that none of the leaders of Tower Hamlets “gay community organisations” even live in the borough. Perhaps Ted could inquire of Rainbow Hamlets whether or not Jack Gilbert or Rebecca Shaw even live in the borough (I’m informed one of them doesn’t even live in London). Perhaps Ted could find out how much the council/mayor pay to this unrepresentative “community organisation”.
Whilst Lutfur Rahman has been doing his Alice in Wonderland panto, Hizb ut Tahrir have held multiple conferences in the borough. What has he done to stop divisive, intolerant groups like that from fomenting intolerance and segregation in his borough of “tolerance and togetherness”? For 30 years Hizb ut Tahrir have been promoting sharia law, and according to books of sharia law (found in Tower Hamlets public libraries) gay people are to be executed. Why wasn’t he holding a demonstration outside of the Hizb ut Tahrir conferences, like he led demonstrations against the EDL?
If it wasn’t for racist attacks by muslims against white people in Tower Hamlets, EDL would have had no reason to visit this borough of “tolerance and togetherness”. If it wasn’t for Hizb ut Tahrir bringing their 7th century intolerance into the borough of “tolerance and togetherness”, EDL would not have been wanting to protest there. If it wasn’t for the homophobia of East London Mosque, the attacks on gay people, gay bars, and the plastering of east London with “Gay Free Zone”, the East End Gay Pride would never have been necessary.
Lutfur has done nothing that makes gay people in Tower Hamlets feel that the place is tolerant or that they have any future in that borough (even council staff advise gay people to leave the borough of “tolerance and togetherness”), and more will just leave, like Graeme Archer did. Meanwhile, around England people are paying attention to what goes on in Bradford and Tower Hamlets. They know that they cannot let the rest of the country become such cess-pits of intolerance.
I don’t say that Rahman will win by a landslide but if Labour don’t pull their finger out win he will.
So ‘madmullah’ what should Labour be doing that you don’t think they are doing?
I’m trying to think what Labour actually stands for in Tower Hamlets other than power for power’s sake. I don’t think Labour can do anything, they’re thoroughly discredited.
=> Grave Maurice
Its a bleak prognosis.
That is why LBTH really does need a bunch of community minded individuals to form a local residents political party (dead easy to do), register it with the Electoral Commission (easy too) and fight for commonsense and sanity at the pending local elections.
Is Labour in LBTH really a political party or just a collection of bloated egos ?
Curious Cat.
Well for one thing actually make potential voters aware that there is an election in May and how important it is. At the moment voters across the borough, and in the crucial strip in the north which suffers from the noise from the “festivals” in Victoria Park, are completely underwhelmed. The ones I have spoken to are still infected with ” it doesn’t make any difference, our votes don’t count” syndrome.
Specifically campaign in those wards with a pledge to ban all further concerts which should be removed to a field in Essex. Design and get out specific leaflets about this issue complete with photo and statement from the Lutfur councillor who said if residents don’t like the noise they should move.
Start a one issue campaign in those wards and have a series of high profile events that will grab national and international attention. Picket Rahman’s house with loudspeakers as well as that of the councillor who made the statement, I can’t remember his name such a nonentity is he.
Talk to local people who can run their own campaign on this issue, put out their own leaflets and circumvent the cap on campaign spending as Rahman does and the anti Rahman camp did in the last election in Spitalfields where Rahman’s man won with a handful of votes when a very risque but truthful leaflet expose the corruption of his regime and candidate.
Use the much watched streetlife social media site were there is a campaign building around one of Rahman’s supposed community consultation venues next month on the 26th at St Pauls Church Bow. People are to be asked their views on whether there should be more provision for line dancing, knitting and crocheting!
I know you will say that it couldn’t be made up but someone in Rahman’s office did, so use it. Pack the meeting with local people protesting about all of the issues that enrage people and turn the whole thing into street theatre. If the meeting goes ahead turn it into an indictment of Rahman and if it’s cancelled accuse him of running away from voters.
Start to thing on the lines of spectacles of the absurd which will generate free national publicity, let the media do their job for you and break away from the sterile canvassing and door knocking that is all Labour seems to be doing at the moment.
{That’s enough absurdity for the moment Ed}.
Mr Mad Mullah’s posting is impressive. He must be a political animal.
He is right. His posting suggests Labour are slumbering whilst dreaming about the voters queuing-up to vote Labour. In LBTH Labour are bound to loose because their efforts are generally unimpressive, if apparent, and they continue to suffer from the same old Labour arrogance that they deserve the public’s votes without sufficiently engaging with the public·
The Son of Labour meanwhile, is active and has been for many months, and engaging with the voters. He is probably using council resources in the form of facilities and/or manpower to help his re-election campaign.
Labour meanwhile have been typically Lazy. No decisive action, yet feeling superior to the plebs in the street because they are Labour Party people. Well the news is, that sort of non-campaigning ain’t going to get them many votes.
Amazingly the official slumbering opposition are too thick to copy the best and most effective bits of the Mayor’s aggressive campaign and use them to Labour’s advantage. The best election campaign Labour can do, is to moan about the eventual winners. Sorry Labour, that ain’t going to get you enough votes.
Follow Mad’s advice a pick one major point – not per ward but for a geographically defined part of a ward, and produce humorous leaflets in English and Urdu ? taking the piss out of everything the Mayor does AND publicise the public’s grievances and wishes. Expose the wasteful habits of the Mayor, but in a mickey taking manner. Keep bashing away whilst publicising your own candidates. Big easy to read type and nice large photos.
Then perhaps Labour might have a chance.
When did Labour last leaflet outside mosques after Friday prayers ? Has Labour ever addressed voters inside the mosques before the start of Friday prayers ?
If you really want someone’s vote, stop arrogantly thinking the public owe you a favour. Instead go out and aggressively campaign like your lives depended on it.
Curious Cat.
Sorry to say but I agree with Cat and MadMullah. It does seem that a large number of local people don’t know there is an election coming, let alone what it’s for and why it’s very important that they should vote. The Despicable Rahman is good at publicity, we know that, and Labour have to be better than him at publicity if they are to get elected. And I currently just don’t see that happening.
Imran’s analysis of voting is probably not far from the mark either.
Labour, please, please PLEASE get your act together. A lot of people are relying on you. If ANYONE from Tower Hamlets Labour read this then take this as a direct request to sharpen your campaigning up, and fast.
(And the Tories? Does anyone even know who their candidate is? Their silence is a good thing as votes for them will split the anti-Rahman vote. Are they consciously backing out in an attempt to help Labour?)
Tim.
Gee Tim,
Thanks for your kind comments … blush blush ….
Despite some of the sluggish wafgfle on this forum, Son of Labour is going to win easily because there is no effective opposition.
Labour gave up months ago because they lack the necessary calibre to write inspiring educative and humorous leaflets exposing the behaviour and frivolous spending habits of their estranged Son.
In 3 months the elections will be called.
LBTH is now in an emergency situation. If I was running the show, but I’m not, this is what I would do urgently
1. Have secret meeting with Labour, Tories and everyone else (except Son of Labour) bang their heads together and not let them out of the room until an election strategy has been devised and agreed.
2. Powerful parties don’t make deals, but the in LBTH the only powerful party belongs to Son of Labour, so the opposition will have to grin and bear it.
3. Get this election wrong and its another 4 years before you get a second chance. Ghastly thought / nightmare.
4. The weak and generally ineffective opposition should publicly announce they have, just for the local council election, decided to protect the public by joining a local Save Tower Hamlets Alliance. They does not prevent the opposition dividing up TH and having, by mutual agreement, their choice of candidates in different wards.
5. To have any chance of ousting Son of Labour and his bunch, the opposition must ensure there is only ONE opposition candidate for each council vacancy. Don’t split the anti-Son vote.
6. A good cartoonist and a good leaflet writer are urgently needed for the Save Tower Hamlets Alliance leaflets. The leaflets should tell the public in English, Urdu and other languages? that the situation in TH is so dire, Lab, Tories and others are working together to save the borough, protect services and lower Council Tax and to stop Son of Labour wasting scarce public funds.
7. New leaflets out every 18 days. Leaflets should be A3 printed both sides and folded once thus making 4 x A4. One A4, the back page, should be about local issues in the ward or area and feature the local campaigner(s).
On the other hand, to all those full of good ideas but lacking the staminate and will to work hard, why not emigrate to somewhere warmer until the end of May?
Curious Cat.
As to the leaflet I mentioned and how to campaign effectively look at http://www.leftfutures.org/2012/04/the-politics-of-hate-in-tower-hamlets/. It’s written by Jon Lansman who, while living in Weavers Ward, openly campaigned last time around for the Respect candidate otherwise known as Lutfur’s man.
The sides of the leaflet that he abhors can be seen about half way down. Everything in the leaflet was true and Robbani won by a handful of votes. This is the way to go.
As Cllr Golds said at the time, that leaflet is nasty, pernicious, anonymous, and illegal.
The claims are vile and untrue and it disgraces local politics aside from being libellous.
Ted, I thought you had a comments policy. This appears to have slipped through the net.
I can’t imagine Peter Golds saying those things, he is far too astute. Could you perhaps dissect the claims and say which, if any, fit your descriptions? Lansman admitted in the article that the leaflet nearly cost Lutfur the election. Way to go!
He certainly said that – I remember it well and it was reported somewhere at the time.
And I don’t see what the point of leaflets in Urdu would be – as far as I’m aware hardly anyone in the East End speaks that language.
Strange that you are saying that it was reported somewhere at the time meaning that you were unsure of the source. The words nasty, pernicious, anonymous and illegal were exactly those that then appeared in the East London News article when you allegedly discovered it.
You of course knew all along that it was in ELN which is a site paid for by Rahman and run by Jenny Fisher and certainly at least Jon Lansman with very likely contributions from Mark Seddon and MarcFrancis. You have been sussed.
Peter Golds. Did you make the comments that are being attributed to you? And if you did can you explain them because as far as I can see what is in the leaflet is true.
I agree with curious cat, a Urdu leaflet against Rahman would be extremely beneficial. Hope you are advising the Tories with the your in-depth knowledge of Tower Hamlets. Keep up the good work!
Hi Imran
Someone posted that Urdu was not spoken in TH, or words top that effect. I know my Bangladeshi friends speak more Urdu than English.
I’m not advising anyone. I have put my honest thoughts on here for others to consider.
The problem in TH is there is too much stagnant waffle and not any real action. Its like the opposition have already conceded victory to Son of Labour ……. I am sure the public don’t deserve the depressing fate the combined opposition have negligently abandoned them to.
TH badly needs a residents party run by active intelligent men and women. The public can’t rely on worn-out Big Wigs devoid of fight, energy, inspiration and a strong determination to win.
The future looks bleak and dismal. No wonder Ted got out.
Curious Cat.
A couple of things. Oldford1 hasn’t backed up is claims about Peter Golds so we must assume that he was making the whole thing up, which of course everyone knew all the time.
Secondly the language problem. Urdu was the official language of Pakistan before the creation of the state of Bangadesh and the attempt by the West Pakistani government to impose it as the official language led to the Language riots of the early fifties and the shooting of demonstrators in Dhaka by the Pakistani army. The sculpture in Altab Ali Park is a scaled down version of the Shaid Baban in Dhaka.
Older Bangladeshis spoke Urdu as it was taught in the schools before independence. Younger post liberation Bangladeshis learnt it from Bollywood films as spoken Hindi and Urdu are almost the same although the scripts are very different.
Sylheti, the spoken language of the vast majority of Bangladeshis in this country is very similar to spoken Assami the Indian province next door to Sylhet but uses the Bengali alphabet. Leaflets in Urdu would be incomprehensible to Sylhetis. I hope this helps and I think Imran was being facetious in his last post.
I wouldn’t have said it if it were not true. I’m not in the business of making things up. And I’ve found it now:
Cllr Peter Golds (Conservative) gave us a characteristically concise but comprehensive answer: “Nasty, pernicious, anonymous, illegal and as invidious as the ‘Abbas is a wifebeater leaflet’. The police should investigate and prosecute.”
(http://www.eastlondonnews.com/category/politics/page/7/)
I agree.
I thought something was familiar so I went back over it. The style of East London News is not only very similar to that of the Jon Lansman/Michael Meacher Trot site Left Futures they even use the same photo of the Brick Lane name plaque.
Check out http://www.leftfutures.org/2012/04/the-politics-of-hate-in-tower-hamlets/ and the same plaque on the East London News articles mentioned here. You have been sussed Jon/Mark/Marc. I see the editor is arch Trot and Lutfur/Kennite Jenny Fisher.
=> Mr Mad but never-the-less clever Mullah of Brick Lane E1
Thank you very much for your really helpful analysis of Bengali languages.
Curious Cat
There is only one Bengali language.
Which is ?
CC
I was being dead serious madmullah, a Urdu leaflet against Rahman will be extremely beneficial………….Hasina will send the entire Bangladeshi army to campaign for him.
Here’s the conundrum Labour is in. They must get the “white” voters to come out and vote otherwise Biggs has no chance. These voters by enlarge are sceptical of the Bangali Labour politicians. Biggs goes out to campaign in most areas flanked by Bangali Labour supporters. The white folks don’t even see Biggs, they see a bunch of foreigners taking over their home. To them it doesn’t matter what colour rosette they are wearing.
Should Biggs campaign in white areas with white only colleagues?
Is there another way to get the message out to white people without putting an Asian in front of them?
Labour is damend if they do and damned if they don’t. Its a pickle even Mr Pickles himself could not pick out of.
Imran,
If I was running the show, I would have the CANDIDATES out every day banging on doors without an army of supporters. Voters are voting for a candidate not for an army.
Curious Cat
oldford1. Your source is the origin of the smears against Cllr Abbas. The articles were written by Jon Lansman, Mark Seddon and Marc Francis. But you already know that.
I meant of course the articles in East London News. I see from their website that the editor is Jenny Fisher, well known Trotskyist and Livingstone crony. The Lutfur largesse seems to have been spread widely to hacks for hire.
It does look as though 1. TH has given up on ever having a Chief Executive and 2. Is enshrining the Mayor’s love of transpancy into the fabric of the organisation. What was once known as the Chief Executive’s Department will henceforth be the Directorate of Law, Probity and Governance. Love the Probity!
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