This is a guest post, by Cllr Rabina Khan, formerly of Tower Hamlets First and now an independent candidate for Tower Hamlets Mayor.
The first thing I will do if elected as Mayor of Tower Hamlets is sit down with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Commissioners. While this council continues to be recognised nationally as a high performing authority leading in many key policy areas, last year’s report by PriceWaterhouse Coopers identified governance failures in certain areas and addressing these must be our first priority – along with restoring confidence in our institutions and processes – so that we can move beyond recent challenges to best protect local people facing a wide range of adversities in difficult times.
I want to be a mayor for women, a mayor for housing and a mayor who stands up against austerity. Women need more role models in public life. Of the seventeen directly elected mayors in Britain, only four are women. I hope that I can be part of breaking that evident glass ceiling, following the recent influx of record numbers of women to Parliament and an election which for the first time saw female party leaders – Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood – take the stage and arguably totally transform the debate.
Every study has shown that austerity, and before it the recession, have hit women harder than men. Women’s unemployment, and particularly BME women’s unemployment, is a serious concern. That’s why I’m pledging to establish a brand new Women’s Employment Hub to ensure local women are presented with job opportunities and are equipped with the skills needed for the workplace.
Under my leadership as cabinet member for housing for the last five years, Tower Hamlets has seen more than 4000 social and affordable homes built – more than any other council in Britain as recognised by central government repeatedly awarding us the highest ‘New Homes Bonus’. We’ve established the landmark Preventing Homelessness Fund, refused to pass on cuts in council tax benefit and said no to Bedroom Tax evictions. But the housing waiting list continues to grow, so I’ve drawn up detailed plans to build 5,500 affordable homes by 2018.
Tenants know I’m someone who has always been on their side – and I’ll hold social landlords to account to make sure they promote real tenant leadership and decision-making. I’m also promising a better deal for Leaseholders – capping punitive charges and making our system fairer.
Over the last four years Tower Hamlets has blazed a trail on behalf of local people, fighting austerity and latent child poverty that continues to blight the East End. We’ve restored education maintenance allowances scrapped by central government, introduced universal free school meals in primary schools and introduced university grants to ensure that poverty cannot be a barrier to achievement.
We were the first council to pay workers the London Living Wage. Now I’m campaigning for a Living Rent. My brand new Mayor’s Employment Board and enterprise strategy will deliver 20,000 sustainable jobs and training opportunities, along with 8,000 new apprenticeships. As a working mum I understand what a juggling exercise life can be, so we’ll provide more nursery places to help parents into work. I’ll also abolish charges for bulk-waste collection.
Some have tried to make this election about the recent court judgment. Former mayor, Lutfur Rahman has made clear his intention to appeal. But that is his battle and this is mine. This election cannot be about the past, when the future presents such stark challenges to the poor and the vulnerable. We need to start a fresh chapter in our politics, opening up local democracy and leaving no-one outside. My People’s Question Time events across the borough will enable local people directly to hold me to account, along with key officials from the council and – I hope – partner organisations such as the police and the health service.
I’ll extend filming to all council committees, answer questions in full council, cabinet and the scrutiny committee. I’ll hold a regular press briefings. There will be no mayoral car. Grants will be determined in an open and transparent manner. I’ll review the council’s relationship with Rich Mix, and launch a brand new culture strategy to engage with all the rich spectrum of culture and talent throughout the East End. And anyone who knows me will tell you I’m my own woman.
The general election has returned a reactionary Conservative government hellbent on rolling back the state no matter the human consequences. At the same time we have a Labour Party bashing immigrants and backing the lowering of the benefit cap as its leadership candidates compete to see who can lurch most to the right. Even locally John Biggs has refused to guarantee lifeline policies such as the EMA. This area needs a mayor who can be relied upon to be on local people’s side. I hope you will put your trust in me to be that mayor.
Trial by Jeory 
You claim to have built 4000 affordable houses in Tower Hamlets. What are the addresses?
Can we see the detailed plans of the 5,500 homes that you will be building by 2018? I would like to view them. Can you contact me on spanfoods@gmail.com to arrange for a viewing. I spend a lot of time in Spain but will fly back especially for the viewing. There are flights from my local airport to London Docklands.
Please invite me for the photo-opportunity.
http://u22.net/cat
Thanks.
Curious Cat.
Please don’t spit on my back and tell me its raining. Your friend Lutfur drove a wedge through Tower Hamlets that I doubt will ever be repaired. Your attempt to rig the election made me leave the Isle of Dogs. I do not have
The words to describe my contempt for you.
I hope that I can be part of breaking that evident glass ceiling …… which for the first time saw female party leaders – Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood – take the stage and arguably totally transform the debate.
Och aye ???
I do ner think that wee Nicola would wish to be compared with Rabina. The SNP have much higher standards.
Contrary to Rabina’s mistaken assertion, the debate in Scotland has not changed with the election of the new party leader, a wee lassie from Glasgow. Its the same as it was under a man called Alex.
Wonder why intellectual Rabina failed to mention the handbagging political party leader who was a British prime minister for many years – Maggie ? Was Rabina’s script writer living abroad at the time or simply oblivious to very recent English political history ?
Curious MacCat
My brand new Mayor’s Employment Board and enterprise strategy will deliver 20,000 sustainable jobs and training opportunities, along with 8,000 new apprenticeships.
Unless you can personally guarantee 20,000 sustainable jobs and training opportunities, along with 8,000 new apprenticeships its wicked to give false hopes to deserving people desperate for jobs.
Besides, you have no lawful means whatsoever to restrict those wonderful 28,000 jobs to people living in the borough of Tower Hamlets. Therefore what is your honest and accurate figure for the quantity of borough of Tower Hamlets residents getting any of those mythical 28,000 jobs ?
As a working mum I understand what a juggling exercise life can be, so we’ll provide more nursery places to help parents into work. I’ll also abolish charges for bulk-waste collection.
(a) Please don’t neglect your own children. They need you at home. Their needs are more important that your own ego-trips.
(b) What is the cost of those extra nursery places and how will you fund it ?
(c) How much will the abolition of collections cost the Council Tax payers ?
Fantasies – last minute distortions of reality ?
Curious Cat.
You’ll have the chance to question her about that at tomorrow night’s hustings.
It’s at Lansbury Lodge, 117 Ricardo St, E14 6EQ
She’s not confirmed she’ll attend yet though, as I understand it.
Neither Rabina nor any other politician create or offer jobs to anyone unless they personally employ them. It is a blatant lie to say the mayor can reduce unemployment. Businesses create jobs, not Councils and they will only do so if they have confidence in the administration. With Rabina as mayor they won’t. Incidentally, how are the figures of 20,000, and all the others, arrived at?
It all sounds very vague, very desperate and very deluded.
Pure Drffle, but what else would you expect from this drama queen
Dear Rabina,
If, as you say, “Former mayor, Lutfur Rahman has made clear his intention to appeal. But that is his battle and this is mine. This election cannot be about the past,” why did you place a photograph of Lutfur so prominently on campaigning material distributed throughout the borough?
Thanks
…and why then has Rabina credited the extremist-linked, lying corrupt ex-mayor for everything she has achieved. Not that it’s much…
…and why on her own website did Rabina say ‘The work the last administration has done is why I’m proud to have been a part of it, and why I’m grateful for the former mayor’s endorsement.’ It’s an odd sense of pride she has about being part of a lying and corrupt administration she was elected to through corrupt and illegal practices, along with the other 16?
…and why did the lying corrupt ex-mayor introduce Rabina at the Waterlily as ‘his party’s candidate.’ The party that was subsequently struck off.
…and why did the lying corrupt ex-mayor name Rabina as the person to succeed him and was announced at the Waterlily as his choice to succeed him.
In what possible way is this not about the past?
THR
It’s because she is lying.
Curious cat it’s because of your stinking attitude we need more women leaders. “Don’t neglect your kids they need you at home”. Why don’t you just be honest and also tell her to go back to her country you bigot. I will not be suprised if your voting for John Bigot sorry meant Biggs.
Your new here John Barnes. You sound like a Trotskyist. We don’t in fact need more women leaders, we need people who are competent and honest and Rabina Khan isn’t so take your politically correct racial and gender quotas and stick them.
Dear Mr Barnes,
Sorry you don’t seem to know that women, not men, give birth to children after carrying them around for 9 months. Woman breast feed babies not men.
Abandoning children by leaving them with non-family members for long periods of the day is certainly not caring for one’s own family. Whether Rabina or her husband look after their children is less important than one of the parents caring for their own children.
I haven’t a clue which country Rabina was born in. Perhaps she was born in England. If so, how on earth can you suggest she returns to her country of origin. You do sound like a racist.
Unlike you, I think that someone who has made a permanent home in my country has sufficient Right to continue living in what is now their country too.
I do hope you are not one of those professional agitators always seeking to create civil unrest.
Yours sincerely,
Curious Cat.
Poor deluded John Barnes. And nasty name caller too. Why don’t you go back to your tree hugging liberal loony bin? Just because someone who is brown skinned is criticised doesn’t mean you need play the race card, just because you still feel guilty for xx hundred years of British Colonial rule. And before you say something even more stupid, I’m brown-skinned.
I’m now red skinned because of catching the sun yesterday. :-O
Not that, twat.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z on O2
Why would anyone fall this unadulterated mindless pack of lies and sexist drivel? Some one ought to remind her that mayors are not put there by corruption but are to be democratically elected. If she thinks there aren’t enough women mayors that’s because people haven’t voted for them. It’s called democracy – something she knows nothing about.
But Rabina dear, you are transparent.
We’ve all seen right through you…..and like your puppet master, you are rotten to the core!
It seems Rabina wants to do a lot of the things Lutfur didn’t: free bulk waste collection; all meetings recorded; turning up at scrutiny meetings; no chauffeur car. But Rabina you forgot clean streets and bringing back Vicky Park fireworks?
There’s only one problem: you vociferously supported Rahman when he was doing all those wrongs. Remember this little wonder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4ozhY1xhI
You’ll say anything to get elected. Why settle for 8,000 homes? Make it a straight 10,000
I don’t trust a word you say.
See you tomorrow?
We need a mayor who’ll engage with everyone, I’m sceptical that John B or Peter G have the necessary motivation to even try.
One thing guaranteed with Rabina she’ll have to work hard just to keep the cynics off her back, that’s the kind of a motivated Mayor this borough needs.
Then why isn’t she attending tomorrow night’s hustings? She says she’s too busy. But the fact is she’s making the same decisions as Lutfur: she doesn’t want to risk the public scrutiny at this stage. That’s not making an effort. Or do you think it is?
Rabina has failed to attend several hustings meetings where she knew the crowd wouldn’t be assured… and it was taken as a real insult by the people there. Rabina then gave these lame excuses which have since been demonstrated (by LW etc) to have been lies. One of the lies she made was contradicted by an elderly nun…which implied one of them was not telling the truth and, frankly, I believe the nun.
Lying* appears to be Rabina’s default position; is lying more acceptable among some communities than others? You must be honest* to hold public office.
Help for Rabina
* Lying is when you say something which you know isn’t true. It is still lying even if you say it to kafirs.
**Honesty means not lying to people to people Rabina.
But is Rabina capable of working genuinely hard for the whole community ?
No.
Absolutly awful woman. I cannot wait to watch her lose
Lookout for tears…..
TED, HOW DO I VOTE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS?
Dear George Lansbury, it’s simple: you vote for a candidate who is grossly incompetent and who will continue Lutfur’s job of ruining the council’s finances. Then the government (hopefully) will issue further directions to take over all of the Council’s functions and the Commissioners will be fully in charge for an indefinite period. It seems that since Hackney council had gone bankrupt some annoying legislation has been passed to prevent this recurring.
Incompetence and corruption in local government seem to be frowned upon within the ruling circles for some reason and they simply don’t understand that democracy is more important. They have this ludicrous idea that corruption is an enemy of democracy!
Have a read through this blog and you will easily work out which candidate would be the best to achieve this objective.
So happy voting for the commissioners- I have a feeling that’s what you intend to do.
Don’t think it can’t happen in Tower Hamlets. People said it would never happen – and it did.
What’s more Commissioners have also taken over all the functions of the NHS in East London – because of a demonstrable inability of the Board to manage the budget and deliver services to standard.
There are only three serious contenders for the Mayor – John Biggs, Peter Golds and Rabina Kahn
A vote for Rabina Kahn is a vote for the Commissioners since it’s extremely unlikely that they will leave if she is elected. (They might change personnel but they won’t leave)
Rabina says
These are promises without details. Maybe she could explain why she didn’t do this in the administration which lasted from 2010-2015 when she was responsible for the housing portfolio?
Did she actually hold any of the social landlords to account? If she did what was the result? Specifics please.
Did she challenge any or all of the punitive charges faced by leaseholders? If not, why not?
How exactly is she going to be able to change the regulations which provide the legal basis for how leaseholder charges are calculated? Or is this another empty promise?
What’s going to make a difference if she is elected Mayor? She’ll have even less time to spend on housing.
Deluded of Tower Hamlets promises something she knows she can not deliver.
Deluded and/or the Mayor of Tower Hamlets has no legal ability to “hold” any Private Provider of Social Housing (PPSH) …… .
Rabina needs to change her Spin Doctor / Script Writer. Her crap is boring me.
Curious Cat
She is just saying whatever it takes. It is like this pledge to “re-open” the Joiner’s Arms – it is something the council can’t do but it was enough to convince some deluded lesbian Trots that she is on their side…it was what they wanted to hear and she gave it to them.
More lies. She will have no power to do any of this. She has failed to hold any social landlord to account. (Witness her failure with East End Homes) and she has failed to even manage the Council’s own disastrous housing management organisation, Tower Hamlets Homes despite it having 4 former THF Councillors on its board!
What planet is this woman on?
The problem is some will believe her utterances, Those that do, are unused to such massive wholesale deceit.
Manipulating the public for personal gain is corruption.
CC.
Ted says (Sunday afternoon)
I believe NOTHING this woman says. First of all, her ARROGANCE in comparing herself to national leaders like Nicola Sturgeon is just extraordinary. You are a local councillor who has been elected by a thousand people Rabina and that, hopefully, will be all.
She also talks about being accessible to people. If she wants to be accessible then why has she accepted invitations to talk to groups outside her comfort zone and then not turned up? Her excuses have been lies and have been shown to be lies.
This is an election between right and wrong. Rabina has an issue with white people and, in particular, white men. In my opinion she is a bigot and she is dishonest and as such she is unfit to hold public office.
Rabina does a great disservice to women in politics and women in general, by believing that the only way for them to get on is to do so through corrupt and illegal practices, being supported by a lying and corrupt man and lie to get elected.
She is no role model for anyone and her patronising and arrogant attitude that women are somehow not capable of making their own way in the world without her is rude and disrespectful to women, particularity as she’s being supported/mentored/endorsed by a man who was kicked out of political office for wrong-doing.
Rabina knows nothing about the real world and has never had a proper job. She is no position be an example to women. Women ought to be outraged by her conduct, not congratulating her.
I’m just wondering if the election addresses of candidates for Mayor can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority in relation to whether they are legal, decent, honest etc.
So I looked it up.
This is what the current code for non-broadcast media says on page 33 of the current Code about POLITICAL ADVERTISING which in this context are the Electoral communications by candidates for Mayor
https://www.cap.org.uk/Advertising-Codes/~/media/Files/CAP/Codes%20CAP%20pdf/The%20CAP%20Code.ashx
Let me give you my interpretation of how this will play out during the course of the next administration in Tower Hamlets
Tell lies to get votes – and, at present, nobody within central government has yet grasped the nettle of ensuring that all political communications subject to the same standards as advertising for everything within the scope of the Code – or are subject to stiff financial penalties
The net result is that the general public will call you out on all demonstrable lies.
Tell those same lies after you have been elected as Mayor and repeat them in any communications funded by LBTH and we will all come after you using this code because such communication will now be subject to the same rules as everyone else.
(Or why we should have been using this re East End Life in the last administration which was breaching rules all over the place)
I note that Tower Hamlets Advertiser has chosen to make a feature of the following – which includes a big photo of the leading candidates for the Mayor
Tower Hamlets fails to reach 3-year ‘new homes’ target in housing crisis
Only six-out-of-10 new homes are getting off the ground in London’s overcrowded East End which has failed to reach its target for new family social housing.
and
I call this a rather good example of “the chickens come home to roost”
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chickens-come-home-to-roost.html
Says it all really!
When we asked for help and support with and an estate problem @RabinaKhan was the only person to put herself forward to help.
However her inability and denial to distance herself from the disgraced ex mayor or attend hustings make it very difficult for me to take her seriously.
Speak as you find.
bdnews24.com – which says it has “the greatest number of visitors of any Bangladeshi news outlet” highlights this article last night (2015-06-06 21:59:07.0)
Three British-Bangladeshi MPs seek vote for John Biggs at Tower Hamlets
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/06/06/three-british-bangladeshi-mps-seek-vote-for-john-biggs-at-tower-hamlets
Alongside a rather nice photo from yesterday, it states
Now that’s what I call neutral reporting…..
Dear Ted, I know you are busy, but have you kept any records of the local hustings and attendance of those Hoping to win us over?
It’d be interesting to find out if the hustings were independent, or aimed at specific groups. I.e. The Bangla Channel, or Rainbow Hamlets.
I’m guessing that we may find a pattern forming… Though I’ve been called a cynic a few times.
If this election isn’t about Lutfur, then why is he all over your latest leaflet
https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/13155/
and the one before?
https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/12985/
Elementary Dear Watson.
Some might suspect that Rabina, if elected, wants to behave and govern just like her hero. Why else would she wish to remind the voters of Mr Rahman ? Is she essentially telling the public ?
Sherlock Cat
Really?
So what happened to Rabina Khan in these photos…? Can anybody see her? In contrast, it’s very difficult to miss the ex-Mayor!
Looks like Lutfur Rahman might be thinking along the lines of a second career as an “adviser” to Rabina Khan. So far that seems to be working e.g.
“How not to turn up for hustings”;
“how to avoid answering awkward questions”,
“how to avoid being seen with any other women while campaigning”
I much prefer the independent minded British Bengali women politicians in this photo – who have support from diverse backgrounds – and who are supporting John Biggs.
I’ve just been reading more about habitual liar Rabina Khan on lovewapping.org – http://lovewapping.org/2015/05/confirmed-rabina-khan-did-meet-police-over-leafletgate/
Is this crook able to tell the truth? Not only is she a liar, a cheat, a racist and crook, she insults us with her petty lies.
I hear now her chums have been up to even more of their old tricks attempting to swing their trophy puppet into Lutfur’s filthy rotten shoes.
Come on government, let’s show these people the error of their ways and bang them up for their actions. What kind of message are we sending by allowing this kind of behaviour to continue?
There’s a line between political debate and outright smears. If you want to call someone a liar and a racist please back up your comments with facts.
It’s what did for Lutfur so let’s keep the standards a bit higher.
On the question of police investigations, can I remind people these are on unproven allegations. Thanks.
A person is innocent until proved guilty; even when proved in an English court the verdict can be subsequently overturned and the person declared “innocent”.
Make your comments as opinions and not as statements of fact.
Curious Cat
(not a lawyer; yet many lawyers actually read this blog !)
Yes, great building more council/social housing, they’ll be sold and on the market to private buyers in no time, or let at extortianate rents while their former owners reap in the loot – look in ay local estate agent and you can see them.