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Trial by Jeory

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« As date for verdict in Election Court set, Lutfur demands an explanation over Hitler posting
Tower Hamlets election court: Judge Richard Mawrey QC’s full ruling »

Another Hitler salute from Ahad Miah…and prayers said for Mayor Lutfur

April 22, 2015 by trialbyjeory

That mystery man who, we’re told, abused hapless Ahad Miah’s Facebook page by posting a salute to Hitler was also busy hacking into his Twitter account, it seems.

As a reminder, on July 15 last summer “someone” posted this image on Miah’s Facebook page:

IMG_0408

Miah, a Tower Hamlets First candidate in last May’s elections and a friend of several senior figures in that “party”, immediately found himself in hot water with Mayor Lutfur Rahman. I’m told he admitted to neighbours he’d been an angry man during the Gaza crisis last summer and that he may have done things he now regretted. However, he then issued a statement on Facebook to say he had no idea how that picture got there. He said someone had gained access to his account.

Not many, if anyone at all, believed him.

I didn’t realise he also had a Twitter account. Perhaps he didn’t either. A reader of this blog sent me this Tweet that Miah posted on July 17, two days after that Facebook salute.

pic.twitter.com/kquiae1eCL

— Ahad Miah (@ahadmiah06) July 17, 2014

But enough said on Miah; he’s now history and I doubt very much we’ll see him again trying to make his way in politics. The reason he popped on this blog was because he was part of a DCLG-funded weekend away in Suffolk discussing faith and “promoting integration” with the Salvation Army.

You’ll recall that the weekend at Kentwell Hall was paid for by a £2,000 grant from the Near Neighbours fund, which is from a DCLG pot and administered by the Church Urban Fund.

The grant was submitted by Nick Coke of the Salvation Army in Stepney. His application outlined the purpose of the trip (which was meant to be to Devon at that point and thus requiring quite a bit of diesel and a minibus):

A weekend away to deepen relationships, build understanding and develop plans for future working for 15 leaders from Stepney Salvation Army, Stepney Father’s Group and The Stifford Centre.

The work will have four main areas of impact:

1) Leadership development. The project will develop the capacity of individuals in each institution to work together with others for positive change in Stepney.

2) Cross-institutional relationships. The project will help to build a better working relationship between the Salvation Army, Stepney Father’s Group and The Stifford Centre on issues of shared concern.

3) Building a wider Stepney alliance of organisations. The project will help to build the momentum of a Stepney citizens movement that will seek to reach other institutions and build partnerships in the neighbourhood

4) Influence beyond Stepney. Our desire for the ‘film’ is to share our project with Muslims and Christians outside Stepney and to raise aspirations about what can be achieved in UK communities.

The 2 leaders of the work will be:

Captain Nick Coke – co-leader of The Salvation Army – has 12 years of experience living and working in Stepney. He has built a Salvation Army congregation in Stepney from scratch, is a co-chair of the Tower Hamlets branch of Citizens UK and has a proven track record of building relationships with people of all backgrounds and faith in Stepney.

Ishaque Uddin – leader of Stepney Father’s Group – has lived in Tower Hamlets for 25 years. He founded the group 10 years ago, has previous experience of inter-faith initiatives in Stepney and has been trained in community organising.

They will be supported by secondary leaders in their institutions and by the director of the Stifford Centre.

In my original post on Sunday I said the trip to Suffolk involved the Sally Army, the Stepney Fathers and the Stifford Centre. I said those three groups had been meeting for some time and that they had played badminton and socialised generally.

Well, the Stifford Centre trustees have been in touch and they’re really very angry. They say they’re not Bengali dominated (they are). They say they don’t have clandestine meetings (who mentioned clandestine?), they say they’re “transparent” (really, see a few sentences later), they say they don’t play badminton with the others….and that none of their “representatives” were on that weekend away.

This email came from Salman Alam and Ahbab Miah. The latter is the centre’s committee secretary, while the former is the centre’s director–the man Nick Coke said was supporting the grant application.

So this was curious. Might the grant application have been written on a false premise; might the Near Neiighbours fund have been misled? I asked the Stifford people if they’d had any involvement at all with the project. This is what they said:

We were consulted a long time ago by Salvation Army/Stepney Fathers Club representative about a possible Near Neighbours project involving a weekend away day and while that was an aspiration of the project, we had not heard more about the project development.

I asked them to be more specific about “a long time ago”. They said they “were unable to comment any further on this matter” and that they’d publish a statement in due course. That’s transparency for you.

I also asked Nick Coke for an explanation. I asked whether any Stifford people had been on the trip, whether his grant application had been made on a false premise, and why the venue had been changed from Devon to Suffolk. He said he’d been told to refer all questions to the Church Urban Fund. I’m awaiting their response. Maybe they need a weekend away to work it all out.

As for extended breaks, there might be a few in need of those after tomorrow’s Election Court verdict, which comes at 10.30am.

Many have their fingers crossed, many are praying. I’m informed this was being circulated day on a Whatsapp ‘Muslim Professionals Forum’ that includes Lutfur advisers:

Pls prey…
for 1st Muslim executive MAYOR of Britain.  

Mayor Lutfur case
judgment tomorrow 

The commissioner has decided that the judgement will be given tomorrow Thursday. He will disclose the decision on Thursday and has not given any indication either way.

Win or lose 
We will respect Allah’s
Decision 
He is the Master planer.

Preying? Couldn’t be planer.(sic)

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ahad miah, church urban fund, hitler image, lutfur rahman, mahbub alam, near neighbours, nick coke, salvation army, tower hamlets first | 142 Comments

142 Responses

  1. on April 22, 2015 at 11:00 pm The Grim Reaper

    Bang to rights! Weasel out of this you slimey little liar!

    That’s aimed at Mish and Rahman!

    As I’ve said, sometimes it’s best to come clean and apologise. This time Mr Miah has no excuse, case closed, reputation irrevocably damaged….What next? On the first flight to somewhere with no internet?


  2. on April 22, 2015 at 11:15 pm The Grim Reaper

    Oh, only 6 weeks after standing for election as a Tower Hamlets First councillor?

    How you have the cheek to fly to Greece claiming to show solidarity against (amongst other things) fascism? How do you sleep at night?

    Shame on you Ahad Miah and THF!

    Shame, shame, shame!


    • on April 22, 2015 at 11:19 pm trialbyjeory

      Yes, I meant to make that point about Greece and fascism. I bet they’d like to see him again.

      However, let’s hope he learns from this and stops being such a sheep.


      • on April 22, 2015 at 11:20 pm trialbyjeory

        And I can’t wait to see the video they made of their discussions on the Sally Army weekend.


      • on April 22, 2015 at 11:27 pm The Grim Reaper

        Let’s hope that CC’s FoI request throws up the names of the people who invited our charming delegates to Athens so we can point out what they were really dealing with.

        I doubt they’ll be invited again!


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:47 am Working tirelessly for peoples of Tower Hamlets

      Please don’t be horrible Grim Reaper.

      I am very willing to undertake pubic duties on behalf of the peoples of Tower Hamlets and fly to Greece in business class. Only I can properly communicate with dem for-inn-ers. Peaze tell de kouncil to send me spending money with dat ticket.

      I promise to come back within 6 months or when dat money runs out.

      P.S. Which factor sun cream should I pack ?

      P.P.S. Kan anyone lend me their tourist guide so I no howe to get to dat meetings ?

      Working tirelessly for dat peoples of Tower Hamlets


      • on April 23, 2015 at 7:34 am The Grim Reaper

        Innit tho!


  3. on April 22, 2015 at 11:28 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Isn’t there a wider issue which is relevant to this?

    Tower Hamlets First, as a political party (if that’s what it’s supposed to be) should act to discipline its members when they act in a way which is contrary to the law of the land.

    If it does not, does that not make the party as culpable of racist behaviour as the person who was standing under their banner some six weeks earlier?

    Where’s the evidence that THF have ever given any guidelines to their party members as to what they can and cannot do if they ever want to be politically involved and remain “above board” (i.e. avoid investigations and legal actions and legal fees – need I go on?).

    At the end of the day it goes to standards in public life – of candidates, of political parties, of political managers and of the people who lead those parties.


    • on April 22, 2015 at 11:42 pm The Grim Reaper

      It’s a bit too easy to absolve yourself from accountability by pleading ignorance. I used to work for a company in Boston, and on commencement of employment had a 2 day induction which included 1 hour on the company, and the rest of the time spent telling me about the prevention of sexual harassment.

      This was due to staff being fired for sexually harassing colleagues, then suing their employer after dismissal, as nobody told them it wasn’t allowed.

      Politicians really should have a sound moral barometer, if not, then party selection processes need to be robust enough to weed out the nut jobs, and in Ahad Miah’s case, the downright thick as two planks political social climbers.

      Having read his Facebook statement, what good would he have been responding to constituant’s emails and dealing with council departments? Then again, THF does like lavishing our taxes on a plethora of advisors and support staff…..


  4. on April 23, 2015 at 12:47 am Desmanage

    Thanks for these updates, Mr Jeory

    I really appreciate the time you put in. Democracy can only benefit with people like you about. Fantastic stuff!

    KP

    Kevin Pritchard

    Twitter.com/desmanage


  5. on April 23, 2015 at 1:04 am Detective Inspector Plod

    Morning all.

    Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes it an offence to interfere with a computer system.

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/18/contents

    Mr Ahad Miah ……………..

    Which police station did you report the crime and on what date ?


    • on April 23, 2015 at 8:05 am The Grim Reaper

      Ah, but there lies the rub…..Logging this with the police would involve – A) Speaking to the Police – B) Writing an email or going online – As Ahad Miah is unable to do either effectively, and it’s unlikely any of his former chums/brethren are likely to come running to his assistance, he seems a bit stuck?

      Perhaps by some bizarre twist of fate, the hacker who was so kind to post such vile Nazi loving anti Semitic propaganda on both his Facebook and Twitter accounts (whilst also posting pictures of him kissing babies and taking his son to the park etc), will log the crime on his behalf. Miracles can happen, inshallah!

      On another topic, I wonder what Miah’s plans are now? Life can’t by easy in shadwell and Wapping after being exposed as a filthy-fascist-lovin-liar! I rekon he’ll be adopting a disguise from now on. Perhaps a full coverage burqa? I’d go for small, and get it hemmed to stop it dragging on the floor. You could easily fit into ladies shoes, so finding a matching pair won’t be an issue. Just the handbags left to worry about now. Watney Market is only a short distance away….,


    • on April 23, 2015 at 8:45 am Jay Kay

      Similarly, posting anti-semetic images is a racially aggravated offence.

      In the story about the Teacher in Tower Hamlets here…

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958711/Teacher-fined-posting-picture-Hitler-words-right-Facebook.html

      …you’ll notice that the photo the teacher shared was accompanied by remarkably similar words to those accompanying the picture from Miah’s twitter account. The picture however, is different.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 8:47 am trialbyjeory

        I’m told the postings have been reported to the police.


  6. on April 23, 2015 at 8:04 am Jay Kay

    As if the first image wasn’t bad enough, this image from Miah’s twitter account is particularly chilling and extremely offensive.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 8:12 am The Grim Reaper

      That’s not nice, he can’t help the way he looks, and we can’t all be blessed with Mahboob’s thick, and most photogenic coiffured face fuzz!

      Sorry, you’re referring to his vile postings…. My mistake 😉


  7. on April 23, 2015 at 11:17 am You couldn't make it up!

    BTW – Ted is now in court and tweeting the result of the Tower Hamlets Election Court verdict

    Go to https://twitter.com/TedJeory to follow – actually following Ted is a jolly good idea anyway – but particularly so this morning!

    Mawrey says Tower hamlets first not really a party, merely an extension of Lutfur. Mawrey says Lutfur even forgot it had a constitution

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  8. on April 23, 2015 at 11:20 am Jay Kay

    Rahman not a credible witness, Mawrey says. Alibor ‘arrogant’


  9. on April 23, 2015 at 11:20 am You couldn't make it up!

    The Wharf is also there

    Judge says that a negative verdict would likely lead to the disqualification of the offending candidate from office

    — The Wharf (@the_wharf) April 23, 2015


  10. on April 23, 2015 at 11:21 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mukit and Peter Golds 'reliable witnesses' – Mawrey.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  11. on April 23, 2015 at 11:21 am You couldn't make it up!

    Courts satisfied that agents of Rahman guilty of corrupt practices in respect of votes

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 11:25 am Jay Kay

      Is Alibor out of office now?


      • on April 23, 2015 at 11:27 am You couldn't make it up!

        I should think so. I think this means a new election and/or the Commissioners take over entirely


  12. on April 23, 2015 at 11:22 am Jay Kay

    Courts satisfied that agents of Rahman guilty of corrupt practices in respect of votes.


  13. on April 23, 2015 at 11:26 am You couldn't make it up!

    Gasp in court as Mawrey read that out. Looks like Lutfur will be barred from office and another election. Now on to bribery allegations.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  14. on April 23, 2015 at 11:27 am You couldn't make it up!

    Talking about grants process. Citing PwC report. Mawrey tone utterly scathing of situation in tower hamlets.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  15. on April 23, 2015 at 11:28 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mawrey says grant to Alzheimer's Society even cut to help fund pet projects.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015

    Very good point!


  16. on April 23, 2015 at 11:29 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mawrey says he used his power to promote his community. Court satisfied they were intended to induce votes. Guilty.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  17. on April 23, 2015 at 11:30 am You couldn't make it up!

    WOW! It’s happened – he’s going to barred from office!


  18. on April 23, 2015 at 11:30 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mawrey now onto money paid to Chanel S tv station. Says chief reporter Jubair paid to be his adviser. Thus Lutfur guilty of election bribery

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  19. on April 23, 2015 at 11:33 am Jay Kay

    Alibor and the (former) Mayor now unemployed.


  20. on April 23, 2015 at 11:34 am You couldn't make it up!

    Spiritual influence: Mawrey says this judgement will be controversial but he can't avoid ruling on it

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015

    This one sounds like it’s going to be a humdinger

    I think they may be more than unemployed – I’m just sitting here wondering whether they’re going to prison.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:49 pm The Grim Reaper

      Seize their passports and freeze their assets – this will be a costly exercise!


  21. on April 23, 2015 at 11:34 am You couldn't make it up!

    Triple WOW!

    This will make all the law reviews

    Court had no doubt that this conduct not acceptable. Lutfur guilty of undue influence re spiritual influence

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  22. on April 23, 2015 at 11:36 am You couldn't make it up!

    Even more WOW! Police now getting a pasting!

    Intimidation at polling stations: Mawrey says police could be said to be like three wise monkeys at polling stations. They did nothing

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  23. on April 23, 2015 at 11:38 am You couldn't make it up!

    Ted has just gained 97 extra followers on Twitter in the last 20 minutes!


  24. on April 23, 2015 at 11:39 am You couldn't make it up!

    Re people outside and inside polling stations

    Mawrey says it was undeniably common law intimidation but was it election offence?

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  25. on April 23, 2015 at 11:40 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mawrey says even tho grey deal of petitioners evidence accepted but doesn't meet level of proof but 'only just..with considerable misgiving'

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015

    Shame!


  26. on April 23, 2015 at 11:41 am You couldn't make it up!

    General corruption has been proved, Mawrey says.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  27. on April 23, 2015 at 11:42 am You couldn't make it up!

    Given nature of THF as not a party this means election of all THF Cllrs now corrupt

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  28. on April 23, 2015 at 11:42 am You couldn't make it up!

    Yay!

    Court names Alibor Choudhury as guilty of corrupt practices and must leave office immediately

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  29. on April 23, 2015 at 11:43 am Jay Kay

    This is incredible!


  30. on April 23, 2015 at 11:43 am You couldn't make it up!

    A very important point

    Mawrey praises petitioners for bravery in bringing case, knowing they'd be portrayed as racists and Islamophobes.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 11:49 am Jay Kay

      Agreed. Let’s hope there are no repercussions.


  31. on April 23, 2015 at 11:45 am You couldn't make it up!

    Returning Officer John Williams is blameless, Mawrey says.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  32. on April 23, 2015 at 11:46 am You couldn't make it up!

    Ted now has an extra 140 followers since he started tweeting.


  33. on April 23, 2015 at 11:46 am You couldn't make it up!

    The man to employ if you have a suspected electoral corruption?

    Mawrey says @Francis_Hoar for the petitioners has been a 'tour de force' and worthy of praise from the court, tho occasionally enthusiastic!

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 11:48 am Jay Kay

      That’s his fees increased.


  34. on April 23, 2015 at 11:47 am You couldn't make it up!

    This is going to be interesting

    Mawrey recommends changes to statute especially over spiritual influence

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  35. on April 23, 2015 at 11:48 am You couldn't make it up!

    AND THE BIG ONE!

    Formally LR is guilty of several election offences both by himself and via his agents

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  36. on April 23, 2015 at 11:49 am You couldn't make it up!

    Election to be avoided. Rahman banned from standing for vacant seat of mayor. He's also referred to SRA as he's a solicitor. Sensational

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  37. on April 23, 2015 at 11:51 am You couldn't make it up!

    That means Lutfur Rahman is not the Mayor any longer, he’s banned from standing again and it’s very likely that in future he may not be able to practice as a solicitor

    This is what happens when you ignore the law and ‘play the game’ for high stakes and bet on yourself and your charisma – and show complete contempt for the regulators.


  38. on April 23, 2015 at 11:52 am You couldn't make it up!

    Rahman election now void. He's not been law since May 2014 effectively. Biggs no gearing up for another stab at it

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:46 pm Dave Roberts.

      Only one winning candidate for Labour, Helal Abbas Uddin. Unlike Biggs who let other people do the fighting and suing he stuck his neck out and won his case.


  39. on April 23, 2015 at 11:53 am You couldn't make it up!

    This gets even more interesting. It effectively means that all decisions taken by Rahman can now be contested on the basis that his election was corrupt.

    Have I got that right? Comments from a legal bod please.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 11:55 am Jay Kay

      Correct. They can be challenged but would probably need to prove corruption in each decision.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 12:58 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Which presumably implies that all those likely to be implicated in terms of buying favour with a specific community within Tower Hamlets have got to be in the frame.

        Those Commissioners are going to earn their fees!


  40. on April 23, 2015 at 11:53 am You couldn't make it up!

    another really excellent point

    'Real losers are citizens of TH especially Bengali community who have been led into sense of victimhood'—Mawrey

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  41. on April 23, 2015 at 11:54 am You couldn't make it up!

    He’s now getting tough

    Mawrey says Lutfur acted 'ruthlessly'. Says he has made a career by silencing critics by accusing Islamophobia

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  42. on April 23, 2015 at 11:55 am You couldn't make it up!

    Mawrey is now moving on to costs and Ted wants a break – however I think he’ll be back soon.

    Sounds to me like Mawrey is going to make Rahman et al pay the petitioners costs. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t. Their case has been entirely vindicated.,


    • on April 23, 2015 at 11:58 am Jay Kay

      Petitioners claimed that if they lost their costs are about £1M. If full costs are awarded to petitioners Rahman likely to be bankrupted as well as unemployed and facing criminal charges. Talk about a bad day at the office.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 12:10 pm You couldn't make it up!

        I still think there’s a very real chance he’s going to prison.

        So far we have corruption, fraud – and maybe perjury?

        Just remember Chris Huhne went to prison for lying to a court.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:31 pm You couldn't make it up!

        See the Evening Standard extract below – he’s awarded costs of at least £1m against Rahman with a requirement that he pays £250,000 into court pronto.

        I’m guessing that’s because they’ll now do that thing where they inspect the costs being claimed? What are those people called – the ones who won’t allow petitioners or defendants to claim for stuff which isn’t allowable?


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:44 pm Jay Kay

        Taxation of costs, now known as Detailed Assessment following the Civil Procedure Act 1998


  43. on April 23, 2015 at 11:59 am You couldn't make it up!

    Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman found guilty of corrupt & illegal practices by judge in London http://t.co/a1u5WHIF18

    — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) April 23, 2015


  44. on April 23, 2015 at 11:59 am You couldn't make it up!

    Lutfur Rahman verdict is a victory for decency in politics. Corruption has no place in our city. The people of Tower Hamlets deserve better.

    — Tessa Jowell (@TessaJowell) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:43 pm Dave Roberts.

      Tessa Jowell is as a big a crook as Rahman.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 12:59 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Whatever you may think of her the point about the people of Tower Hamlets deserving better is a good one.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:39 pm Tim

        True, but she couldn’t say anything other than that. Her comment is, to my eyes, a mere platitude, trotted out to show that she has been watching the case and pretending that she isn’t as much of a crook as Rahman.


  45. on April 23, 2015 at 12:04 pm You couldn't make it up!

    How very odd that the verdict on this momentous and truly landmark case – which will be written about in English Law Books for years to come – has happened on St. George’s Day. I wonder if that was planned.


  46. on April 23, 2015 at 12:13 pm You couldn't make it up!

    BTW Ted gained 220 followers in the space of 90 minutes. I’m guessing all the other reporters around the country were hanging off his every tweet! 🙂


  47. on April 23, 2015 at 12:15 pm Jay Kay

    The corrupt Alibor was one of 4 corrupt THF Councillors on the board of the insidious and parasitic organisation called Tower Hamlets Homes. The corrupt and former Mayor was also the only shareholder of the company. The corrupt Rabina Khan was formerly Cabinet Member for Housing. Residents will be asking some serious questions about what’s been going on there with their money as well.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:20 pm You couldn't make it up!

      That’s a very good point.

      I keep thinking about all those contracts signed on the say so of Lutfur.

      If the Election has been voided I’m almost certain all those contracts have also been voided.

      This is the penalty a Council pays when they vest so much authority in the hands of a man – because if he turns out to be corrupt then there are sorts of things that come unstuck when he gets removed from office.

      If the Contracts are done in the name of the Council and the Full Council has made the decision there’s no problem (I think) – but anything done by Lutfur acting as Mayor is in deep doodoo!

      But I’m no lawyer and I’d love to hear from a qualified and practising person on this topic.


  48. on April 23, 2015 at 12:15 pm You couldn't make it up!

    BBC has had another go – with a quote from Richard Mawrey, the Election Commissioner

    Tower Hamlets' mayoral election voided as Lutfur Rahman found guilty of illegal practices http://t.co/7xXE5qGYVw pic.twitter.com/ZaAe2FYEq7

    — BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 23, 2015


  49. on April 23, 2015 at 12:18 pm La Résistance

    rejoice
    rejoice
    rejoice

    this is the best of days and surely the will of allah


    • on April 23, 2015 at 5:53 pm The Grim Reaper

      INSHALLAH!!!!!💥💥💥💥💥


  50. on April 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm You couldn't make it up!

    John Biggs in the limelight again pic.twitter.com/RJDd6KsYvA

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015

    I wonder what he’s saying!


  51. on April 23, 2015 at 12:22 pm You couldn't make it up!

    The Wharf has rushed to print – or possibly a keyboard

    Read our story on the sensational events in the High Court this morning http://t.co/zS99k8uBsN

    — The Wharf (@the_wharf) April 23, 2015


  52. on April 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Eric Pickles: This judgment [on Tower Hamlets] vindicates our action to intervene http://t.co/iN4FovgHmG

    — ITV News London (@itvlondon) April 23, 2015


  53. on April 23, 2015 at 12:25 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Looks like ALL the newspapers are going to go BIG on this – but I guess we always expected the Telegraph to

    Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman guilty of 'corrupt practice' over election http://t.co/hlZ7q0upKv pic.twitter.com/SRcAg6n83N

    — Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) April 23, 2015


  54. on April 23, 2015 at 12:30 pm You couldn't make it up!

    It gets …..EVEN MORE INTERESTING!

    'We are seeking further legal advice on the matter in relation to a judicial review' says @MayorLutfur's Tower Hamlets First party.

    — Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) April 23, 2015

    and then

    Judicial review only method for Tower Hamlets First to challenge ruling of election court – and can't be on point of fact, only of law

    — Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:35 pm Jay Kay

      This was inevitable if Rahman was found guilty. He faces an uphill struggle and huge costs if he goes down this route.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:26 pm Tim

        Utterly inevitable. I sort of hope he goes ahead with this, in order that he may make a further fool of himself. The man knows no limits in his cries of “Islamophobia”. When will he wake up and see what a conniving, deceitful, arrogant, grasping fraudster he is?


  55. on April 23, 2015 at 12:33 pm You couldn't make it up!

    …and the statement from Mayor Lutfur Rahman (hang on a minute – the election has just been voided – so there are no Councillors and there very definitely is no Mayor!)

    http://lutfurrahman.com/tower-hamlets-first-statement-election-court/

    I guess he’s going to have to give up his Twitter account as well
    https://twitter.com/MayorLutfur


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:39 pm Jay Kay

      Once again, the corrupt and now former Mayor of Tower Hamlets welcomed the process and looked forward to clearing his name with his faith in British justice, a system that he embraced as a solicitor, but now can’t accept the verdict.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 12:44 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Thing is – will he be a solicitor for much longer?

        Obviously he wasn’t acting as a solicitor when he was Mayor….

        ….however he certainly can’t duck charges on the basis of ignorance of the law and I’m very sure that the Law Society like other professional bodies will have provision for people found guilty of certain charges and/or generally bringing the profession into disrepute.

        Or to put it another way – would the Law Society licence him to practice as a Solicitor if he has been found guilty ‘in fact’ of general corruption?
        (i.e the facts cannot be disputed only the law in relation to the conduct and findings of the Electoral Court)


  56. on April 23, 2015 at 12:40 pm You couldn't make it up!

    from The Guardian –

    Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman found guilty of electoral fraud http://t.co/sR33AuQOSw

    — The Guardian (@guardian) April 23, 2015

    Just to be clear………..

    “The mayoral election in the east London borough will be rerun after Lutfur Rahman and his supporters were found to have been involved in vote-rigging, seeking spiritual influence through local imams, and wrongly branding his Labour rival a racist.

    Rahman, who has been banned from seeking office again, was also found to have allocated local grants to buy votes.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:01 pm Dave Roberts.

      No doubt Al Gruaniad’s Dave Hill will now be doing a long article on how he got it all wrong. Don’t hold your breath.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:05 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Teeheehee

        He might be having an interesting discussion with his Editor……


  57. on April 23, 2015 at 12:45 pm You couldn't make it up!

    and Ted is back.

    Alibor,Lutfur disqualified from office now.Other THF Cllrs remain. Police action possible. Oli Rahman acting mayor. Election poss June 12

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


  58. on April 23, 2015 at 12:45 pm Jay Kay

    You really couldn’t make it up!


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:50 pm You couldn't make it up!

      I said it first! 😀


  59. on April 23, 2015 at 12:49 pm You couldn't make it up!

    The more I think about it the more I think Rahman and THF must have known this result in advance or at least thought it very likely to happen – and that’s why there are no THF candidates running in this General Election.

    Just think what might have happened at the hustings if they had been…..

    Or is there another explanation? Anybody?


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:37 pm Tim

      Are you asking whether Rahman and THF knew that what they were doing was illegal?

      I’ll give them the credit of not being totally stupid and say that yes, I think they did know that what they were doing was illegal.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Did they think they’d been found out though?

        I think what was being reported as Rahman’s demeanour in court during the latter part of his evidence suggests to me that he must have realised he’d been found out.


  60. on April 23, 2015 at 12:52 pm You couldn't make it up!

    and now for the Labour Party perspective

    Sub committee of labour NEC to decide whether John Biggs must go thro selection process again for mayoral candidate.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015

    I read that as possibly meaning John Biggs is not a natural vote winner even if he’s a good working politician. Or just Labour wanting to be seen to be doing it by the book? Properly!


    • on April 23, 2015 at 12:54 pm Jay Kay

      They will want to see who the other candidate(s) are.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:02 pm You couldn't make it up!

        I was thinking that. I should imagine at least a couple of people will want to throw their hat in the ring.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:12 pm La Résistance

        Oh no not again…


  61. on April 23, 2015 at 12:53 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Our new Acting Mayor – and a man who has stayed away from Twitter for some days

    https://twitter.com/CllrOliurRahman


  62. on April 23, 2015 at 12:59 pm Dave Roberts.

    I have posted before about who should be the new Labour candidate and it clearly has to be Helal Abbas Uddin. The behaviour of Biggs in all this has been disgraceful. He was a terrible witness, did not initiate the action and has sat on the sidelines letting everyone else take the risk with money and reputations.

    Let’s all remember as I have posted before, there is an IFE/Bangladeshi block of votes out there that could shift to another candidate who could win. Biggs might win, Abbas will.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:03 pm Jay Kay

      As did Pickles and Central Gov who now are trying to take credit for the result. In the end it was left to 4 brave residents who risked everything.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:04 pm You couldn't make it up!

        If they don’t get their costs – and I think they will – I imagine there will might be a lot of people prepared to contribute to their fund. http://towerhamletselectionpetition.org/donate.php

        Let’s see what happens on costs.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:32 pm Jay Kay

        Even the police stood by and did nothing. To quote Judge Mawrey, it could be said they were like three wise monkeys. Except there were a lot more than 3 of them but with a lot less wisdom.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:47 pm You couldn't make it up!

        The Local Police Commander has some explaining to do……..


    • on April 23, 2015 at 2:38 pm You couldn't make it up!

      The whole “spiritual influence” thing in law is going to make any future election very interesting.


  63. on April 23, 2015 at 1:03 pm You couldn't make it up!

    The Trial Verdict is going to be the lead item on BBC London Lunchtime News.


  64. on April 23, 2015 at 1:08 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Somebody else trying to claim some of the credit for this verdict

    News on the hour. Amazing result from the election court. Total vindication for the petitioners and @TH_LABOUR_PARTY incl @JohnBiggsAM.

    — Jim Fitzpatrick (@FitzMP) April 23, 2015


  65. on April 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Much better tone to take

    With Lutfur Rahman in power our borough has been marred by division and patronage. We now need to move on. Tower Hamlets deserves better

    — Rachael Saunders (@RachaelSaunders) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:11 pm Jay Kay

      But easier said than done unless all the Lutfurites move on as well.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:42 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Well I guess it depends on what you mean by Lutfurites. Is it likely that being associated with the man and/or called a “Lutfurite” taint a candidate in future?

        I mean – who wants to be associated with a man who has been declared to be corrupt and a liar in the High Court?


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:51 pm Jay Kay

        I suspect there will be quite a few nutters who still believe, like the corrupt and former Mayor, that this was all a set up by the establishment that doesn’t like his ‘progressive’ form of politics; it’s racist, islamaphobic etc, etc, etc…


      • on April 23, 2015 at 3:17 pm You couldn't make it up!

        All the more important to relate precisely why the Court found as it did.

        All the more important to impress on people that justice always catches up with wrongdoing.


  66. on April 23, 2015 at 1:12 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Michael Crick of Channel 4

    Mawrey: it is inevitable Rahman will denounce this judgement as racism and xenophobia

    — Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:25 pm Jay Kay

      As Rahman does (or did) about everything that’s not to his liking, but who’s going to take any notice now?


  67. on April 23, 2015 at 1:14 pm La Résistance

    WHO IS IN CHARGE?

    Is it Stephen Halsey or Oli Rahman or Eric Pickles? Are the THF councillors valid because they ran as a party when THF has never existed as a legal party? I’m confused


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:18 pm Jay Kay

      Alibor & Lutfur are out immediately. Other THF Cllrs remain. Oli Rahman acting mayor. Election poss June 12.

      Surprising really as Judge declared election of all THF Councillors to be corrupt. I would have thought Central Gov would have taken over until the election as there may be an element of undue haste in re-running the election.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:19 pm You couldn't make it up!

      Very good questions

      I’d say the Commissioners might well be put in charge on a temporary basis until new Elections can be run.

      Thing is if an Election has been voided then do ANY of the Councillors have ANY mandate to make a decision on anything.

      I certainly wouldn’t want to be a company doing business with this Council right now.

      I’m guessing Pickles will pronounce on what the situation is – I don’t think that’s something which comes within the remit of Mawrey’s decision-making.

      Of one thing I think we can be certain, the process for appointing a new Chief Executive will now get underway – and it won’t be an internal appointment.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:08 pm Jay Kay

        I hope so. I think it would be a mistake to rush into an election without giving time for the dust to settle although the remaining THF Councillors are rather lame ducks because they can’t get re-elected as THF does not exist. Hopefully no proper party will touch them so effectively their careers are over. It seems a bit of a dangerous position, like having a disgruntled employee work their notice period.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:46 pm You couldn't make it up!

        I think the forensic scrutiny of their lack of proper party apparatus (constitution, accounts etc etc) must have been the point at which they realised they were in big trouble. It was certainly the point at which I became hopeful that we might get the result we got today.

        I think that this lack of a proper party must also be one of the main reasons why there were no candidates at this election.

        Anybody standing would have had to stand as an Independent.

        So do we now need to pay some closer attention to who the Independents are?


  68. on April 23, 2015 at 1:15 pm You couldn't make it up!

    More from Ted

    Lutfur's costs at least £250k. Am told likely way more.

    — Ted Jeory (@TedJeory) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:20 pm Jay Kay

      If costs go against Rahman where’s he going to get money for his Judicial Review?


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:22 pm Tim

        If costs go against Rahman then where’s he going to get the money to pay them? Or will he just be declared bankrupt and Messrs. Hussain, Moffat and Irlam are left to whistle?


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:24 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Good point. My recollection is that you can’t do a Judicial Review unless you demonstrate the means to pursue it.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:26 pm You couldn't make it up!

        I wonder how much of his assets are now in his wife’s name………..


      • on April 23, 2015 at 1:30 pm Jay Kay

        He made some comment that if he lost he faced financial ruin. To get a lawyer to even begin a Judicial Review, the first thing Rahman will need to demonstrate is means. Being a solicitor found guilty of corruption he’d be lucky to find a lawyer willing to go near him.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 2:51 pm You couldn't make it up!

        Maybe he’d conduct his own JR. Or do they still insist on it being barristers only? I’m guessing whichever Barrister he tries to get would want to extract a premium fee – payable up front – which wouldn’t be possible if he had not discharged what he owes to the Court (I think – anybody?)

        It seems to me that for anybody to back him and fund him to go to JR, it might just be cheaper to just start tearing up a wad of £50 notes right now.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 6:05 pm The Grim Reaper

        Like they haven’t feathered their nests over the last 5 years. They will be rolling in illicit wonga for years to come, like pigs in shit.

        🐽🐽🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐽🐽


  69. on April 23, 2015 at 1:19 pm Tim

    Absolutely bloody brilliant result. Well done Azmal Hussein, Angela Moffat and Andy Irlam. Well done Mawrey and Hoar. Well done Ted – I strongly suspect that your blog and tweets have been key to this case and this result.

    Two observations (apart from the very relevant ones already):

    – TH Labour should hang their heads in shame about this. They arguably created the monster that is Rahman, they dithered about whether he should be barred from the party, Livingstone gave Rahman support and TH Labour failed to back this case in any way, shape or form. BUT it’s a dead cert that they will make political capital out of it. They are only fractionally less disgraceful than Rahman et al.

    – I note today the Islamic meaning of the name “Lutfur Rahman” – it’s “kindness of the most merciful”. Anyone want to get stuck into that one?

    Tim.


  70. on April 23, 2015 at 1:22 pm You couldn't make it up!

    If I was a Headhunter employed to help Tower Hamlets find a new Chief Executive then the first place I’d head would be Ealing Town Hall – to the office of the one man who stood up to Rahman – and had his contract terminated as a result.

    …and the Main BBC Lunchtime News has just covered the verdict. No interviews.


  71. on April 23, 2015 at 1:29 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Can somebody expand on the 7:2 result? What was the seven and what was the 2?

    Source close to Tower Hamlets petitioners agrees 7-2 victory against Latfur Rahman was "far better than they expected"

    — Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) April 23, 2015


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:46 pm Jay Kay

      I can find 7:1 as follows:

      Corrupt practices – Guilty
      Campaign was deliberately dishonest – Guilty
      Used power to promote his community and induce votes – Guilty
      Bribery – Guilty
      Undue spiritual influence – Guilty
      Election of all THF Councillor corrupt – Guilty
      Corrupt practices – Guilty

      Intimidation at polling stations – NOT guilty


  72. on April 23, 2015 at 1:38 pm You couldn't make it up!

    The Evening Standard has the result re costs – and it’s not good news for the ex-Mayor.

    Rahman was ordered to pay all the costs of the court proceedings and make an immediate payment of £250,000 pounds towards the final bill, which is estimated at £1 million.

    Note the word ‘immediate’.

    The judge denounced Rahman’s “ruthless ambition” which had cynically manipulated the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets.

    read more here http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/tower-hamlets-verdict-mayor-lutfur-rahman-guilty-corruption-banned-from-standing-in-new-election-10198118.html

    He’s personally responsible for this bill – and let’s not forget that he brought it all on himself. If he had acted within the law and been more about being a real politician rather than some sort of corrupt popularity contest he’d still be a Councillor and wouldn’t have a very big bill to pay.

    Corruption should play no part in British politics!


    • on April 23, 2015 at 1:39 pm You couldn't make it up!

      Sorry, in error I inserted “Note the word immediate” into the quote when it should have been outside it and immediately following


  73. on April 23, 2015 at 1:59 pm You couldn't make it up!

    Lest we forget

    Biggest thanks2 our hero, #TowerHamlets hero @Francis_Hoar Justice was done today! Magic! pic.twitter.com/ru1Aqbxs9Z

    — Debbie Simone (@debbiesimone123) April 23, 2015


  74. on April 23, 2015 at 2:04 pm Local Resident

    Interesting times… can anyone point to where we can find the full decision? We have only heard the executive summary and assume that there is more detail in the full decision as and when it is published.


    • on April 23, 2015 at 2:08 pm You couldn't make it up!

      There’s 200 pages of it plus the Executive Summary. I’m assuming it will be made available online.

      It will covering things like this (from the Evening Standard)

      he found that the behaviour of Rahman’s supporters had been “deplorable, even indefensible.”

      One of Rahman’s witnesses told the court that he believed the atmosphere at the polling station had been, in the judge’s words, “a haven of tranquillity” yet was conclusively shown to have cast his vote by post.


  75. on April 23, 2015 at 2:05 pm You couldn't make it up!

    The petitioners – were successful in the end and made it to the winners’ photoshoot outside the Royal Courts of Justice

    pic.twitter.com/ByV4pGO9bW

    — Love Wapping (@LoveWapping) April 23, 2015


  76. on April 23, 2015 at 2:13 pm You couldn't make it up!

    This is the Daily Mail on this matter

    He said the effect of his ruling was that ‘Mr Rahman’s election as mayor on 22 May 2014 was void – that is to say, it is as if it had never taken place. He has not lawfully been mayor since that date’.

    He said ‘a new mayoral election’ would have to be arranged.

    The judge added: ‘It is declared that Mr Rahman shall be incapable of being elected to fill the vacancy for the office of Mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.’

    ‘The evidence laid before this court … has disclosed an alarming state of affairs in Tower Hamlets,’ he said.

    ‘This is not the consequence of the racial and religious mix of the population, nor is it linked to any ascertainable pattern of social or other deprivation. It is the result of the ruthless ambition of one man.’

    The judge added: ‘The real losers in this case are the citizens of Tower Hamlets.’

    The judge said Mr Rahman and his supporters had accused opponents of ‘dividing the community’ when it was in fact they who had done so.

    He added: ‘The Bangladeshi community might have thought itself fortunate to have been the recipient of the Mayor’s lavish spending but in the end the benefits were small and temporary and the ill effects long-lasting. It was fool’s gold.

    This [state of affairs] is not the consequence of the racial and religious mix of the population, nor is it linked to any ascertainable pattern of social or other deprivation. It is the result of the ruthless ambition of one man.

    Election court judge Richard Mawrey
    ‘On past form, it appears inevitable that Mr Rahman will denounce this judgment as yet another example of the racism and Islamophobia that have hounded him throughout his political life.

    ‘It is nothing of the sort. Mr Rahman has made a successful career by ignoring or flouting the law (as this Petition demonstrates) and has relied on silencing his critics by accusations of racism and Islamophobia.

    ‘But his critics have not been silenced and neither has this court.’

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3052100/Mayor-Tower-Hamlets-guilty-electoral-fraud.html#ixzz3Y8aynLjk
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook


  77. on April 23, 2015 at 2:44 pm bobmop

    I wonder why the usually vocal Livingstone and Galloway are keeping quiet?


    • on April 23, 2015 at 2:58 pm You couldn't make it up!

      Galloway has said not one word on his Twitter account https://twitter.com/georgegalloway

      Nor has Livingstone https://twitter.com/ken4london

      The answer – they backed the wrong man.

      They are now very closely associated with a man who has been judged in the High Court to be be guilty of corruption, bribery, dishonesty and the unfair use of spiritual influence.


      • on April 23, 2015 at 6:10 pm The Grim Reaper

        I’m guessing Galloway my be buying a new kind of hat as a disguise!

        👒👒👒👒 would go nice with his red catsuit, and protect him from projectile rotten eggs and tomatoes!



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