This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/21/tower-hamlets-mayor-lutfur-rahman-accusations
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tower Hamlets goes to the polls amid accusations of electoral fraud | Tower Hamlets goes to the polls amid accusations of electoral fraud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tower Hamlets, the east London borough that borders the City and the Thames and includes Canary Wharf, will choose its directly next elected mayor against a tense backdrop of an investigation by government-appointed auditors, a police inquiry and a history of complex community politics. | |
| Defending the mayoralty is Lutfur Rahman, the independent incumbent who, like Bethnal Green and Bow's former independent MP George Galloway before him, was carried into office with backing from large sections of the prominent Bangladeshi community. | Defending the mayoralty is Lutfur Rahman, the independent incumbent who, like Bethnal Green and Bow's former independent MP George Galloway before him, was carried into office with backing from large sections of the prominent Bangladeshi community. |
| Britain's first elected Asian mayor is seeking office again amid claims that his administration has sought to gain votes with favourable grants to Bangladeshi and Somali-led organisations, waved through property deals without guaranteeing value for money and used council funds improperly to enable self-promotion. | Britain's first elected Asian mayor is seeking office again amid claims that his administration has sought to gain votes with favourable grants to Bangladeshi and Somali-led organisations, waved through property deals without guaranteeing value for money and used council funds improperly to enable self-promotion. |
| The allegations, some of which were broadcast last month on the BBC's Panorama programme, were swiftly followed by an inquiry ordered by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, which will examine the use of public money. | The allegations, some of which were broadcast last month on the BBC's Panorama programme, were swiftly followed by an inquiry ordered by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, which will examine the use of public money. |
| A series of difficult questions for Rahman remain unanswered about his conduct and that of his his allies. But some Labour activists privately fear that the allegations could well tip the balance in Rahman's favour if the Bangladeshi community – more than a third of the electorate – see him as a victim of establishment persecution. | A series of difficult questions for Rahman remain unanswered about his conduct and that of his his allies. But some Labour activists privately fear that the allegations could well tip the balance in Rahman's favour if the Bangladeshi community – more than a third of the electorate – see him as a victim of establishment persecution. |
| Auditors from PwC are examining the sale of at least three properties by the council – Limehouse library, Poplar town hall and a property in Sutton Street – which, it has been alleged, did achieve not value for money for Tower Hamlets' taxpayers. It has been claimed that sales aimed to help associates of Rahman or potential supporters – a claim Rahman denies. | Auditors from PwC are examining the sale of at least three properties by the council – Limehouse library, Poplar town hall and a property in Sutton Street – which, it has been alleged, did achieve not value for money for Tower Hamlets' taxpayers. It has been claimed that sales aimed to help associates of Rahman or potential supporters – a claim Rahman denies. |
| They are also concentrating on Panorama's claims that the mayor more than doubled public funding to Bangladeshi and Somali groups from £1.5m to £3.6m in the face of recommendations from council officers. The programme-makers said he used funds from the council's reserves and reduced what was left for other organisations by 25% overall. A council lawyer warned that the authority was "vulnerable to legal challenge", leaked documents showed. | They are also concentrating on Panorama's claims that the mayor more than doubled public funding to Bangladeshi and Somali groups from £1.5m to £3.6m in the face of recommendations from council officers. The programme-makers said he used funds from the council's reserves and reduced what was left for other organisations by 25% overall. A council lawyer warned that the authority was "vulnerable to legal challenge", leaked documents showed. |
| Rahman, speaking to the Guardian from a Whitechapel cafe, said the allegations were part of a wider agenda to undermine the Bangladeshi community. "There is no substance at all. Whether it is disposals, whether it is grants. All of our deals are examined favourably. I have kept them at arms length," he said. | Rahman, speaking to the Guardian from a Whitechapel cafe, said the allegations were part of a wider agenda to undermine the Bangladeshi community. "There is no substance at all. Whether it is disposals, whether it is grants. All of our deals are examined favourably. I have kept them at arms length," he said. |
| The mayor's allies claim he does not allocate grants himself. This is done by a board made up of members and officers. But council officials have claimed the mayor set up the award scheme and signed off the grants. | The mayor's allies claim he does not allocate grants himself. This is done by a board made up of members and officers. But council officials have claimed the mayor set up the award scheme and signed off the grants. |
| Rahman accused the BBC's programme-makers of demonising the Bangladeshi and Somali communities – an allegation vigorously denied by the corporation and its journalists – and said that his team calculates they have given £1.6m to help these communities. "They have made a programme attacking the two most deprived peoples in the country – the Bangladeshi and Somali communities. Please judge me on my track record and that's what matters," he said. | Rahman accused the BBC's programme-makers of demonising the Bangladeshi and Somali communities – an allegation vigorously denied by the corporation and its journalists – and said that his team calculates they have given £1.6m to help these communities. "They have made a programme attacking the two most deprived peoples in the country – the Bangladeshi and Somali communities. Please judge me on my track record and that's what matters," he said. |
| But Rahman also says he has been disappointed by Pickles's decision to send in auditors, and claimed that the cost could run to £1m. "To do a fishing expedition just four weeks before an election is absolutely not heard of in a democratic civilised community," he said. | But Rahman also says he has been disappointed by Pickles's decision to send in auditors, and claimed that the cost could run to £1m. "To do a fishing expedition just four weeks before an election is absolutely not heard of in a democratic civilised community," he said. |
| Rahman was Labour leader of the borough council from 2008 until 2010 until he was ousted following claims that he had links with extremist organisations – claims he has always denied. He was voted in as an independent later that year. | Rahman was Labour leader of the borough council from 2008 until 2010 until he was ousted following claims that he had links with extremist organisations – claims he has always denied. He was voted in as an independent later that year. |
| Police are investigating at least one borough grant of nearly £11,000 that had been earmarked for a community group called the Brady Youth Foundation (BYT). Cheques were sent to the organisation to an address where the residents had never heard of such an organisation. | Police are investigating at least one borough grant of nearly £11,000 that had been earmarked for a community group called the Brady Youth Foundation (BYT). Cheques were sent to the organisation to an address where the residents had never heard of such an organisation. |
| Rahman said he called in the police on the BYT in March after receiving a report from the auditors Deloitte, which claimed that there was a potential irregularity. | Rahman said he called in the police on the BYT in March after receiving a report from the auditors Deloitte, which claimed that there was a potential irregularity. |
| "As far as I know and there was a fallout within the management committee as to how they should deliver this service. They had fallen out with each other … There was no attempt at fraud, there was an allegation," he said. | "As far as I know and there was a fallout within the management committee as to how they should deliver this service. They had fallen out with each other … There was no attempt at fraud, there was an allegation," he said. |
| But the Guardian has struggled to identify anyone on the management committee of the BYT. Documents seen by the Guardian appear to show that cheques were sent to it by the council. | |
| Sources say the council called in the police only after they had received a series of questions about the Brady Youth Foundation from Panorama. | |
| But Labour activists are only too aware that Rahman's rise has coincided with many years of internal party conflict and interference with local candidates' selection procedures. The constituency party has been in special measures – meaning that it cannot take major decisions, particularly about candidates, without referring to the party's central office – since 2001. | But Labour activists are only too aware that Rahman's rise has coincided with many years of internal party conflict and interference with local candidates' selection procedures. The constituency party has been in special measures – meaning that it cannot take major decisions, particularly about candidates, without referring to the party's central office – since 2001. |
| One Labour figure told the Guardian that whether the Panorama allegations turn out to be true or not, they might count against their candidate, John Biggs, at the election. "Rahman is being portrayed by his supporters as the underdog, a David fighting against the Goliaths of the BBC and Eric Pickles. It has made our job a little harder." | One Labour figure told the Guardian that whether the Panorama allegations turn out to be true or not, they might count against their candidate, John Biggs, at the election. "Rahman is being portrayed by his supporters as the underdog, a David fighting against the Goliaths of the BBC and Eric Pickles. It has made our job a little harder." |
| Biggs, a former City analyst and London assembly member since 2000, questioned whether it would be value for money given that Tower Hamlets residents will have to foot the bill. "There are legitimate questions to be answered. But I am worried that the investigation will turn into a fishing expedition and will shed relatively little light on what may or may not have happened," he added. | Biggs, a former City analyst and London assembly member since 2000, questioned whether it would be value for money given that Tower Hamlets residents will have to foot the bill. "There are legitimate questions to be answered. But I am worried that the investigation will turn into a fishing expedition and will shed relatively little light on what may or may not have happened," he added. |
| Meanwhile, political tensions are beginning to emerge at even the most solemn of occasions as the election approaches. | Meanwhile, political tensions are beginning to emerge at even the most solemn of occasions as the election approaches. |
| Helal Raman, a local Labour activist who had appeared in the Panorama programme, claimed he had been accosted by one of Rahman's supporters as they filed past the body of a recently deceased mutual friend at a mosque. | Helal Raman, a local Labour activist who had appeared in the Panorama programme, claimed he had been accosted by one of Rahman's supporters as they filed past the body of a recently deceased mutual friend at a mosque. |
| "We were there to pay our last respects to our friend when this person angrily told me that I will face the consequences for appearing on Panorama," he said. He said he has reported the incident to the police. | "We were there to pay our last respects to our friend when this person angrily told me that I will face the consequences for appearing on Panorama," he said. He said he has reported the incident to the police. |
| Raman was the only Bangladeshi critic of Rahman to appear on the programme. Since his appearance, which he does not regret, Raman said he has been shunned by many of Rahman's allies, he said. Days before the programme was broadcast, his car and that of his son had been vandalised. | |
| "Who knows who has been doing this but I have my suspicions," he said. | "Who knows who has been doing this but I have my suspicions," he said. |
| Police and council officials have been inundated with claims of electoral fraud across the borough. Elections were plagued by such claims in 2010 and 2012. | Police and council officials have been inundated with claims of electoral fraud across the borough. Elections were plagued by such claims in 2010 and 2012. |
| Police have launched 14 investigations into allegations of electoral fraud across London, with a number of additional claims still being assessed, a Met spokesperson said on Tuesday. | |
| Two would-be councillors in Tower Hamlets told reporters that they knew of campaigners who were collecting unsealed postal votes last week – which would be in breach of the rules. But neither provided proof or details of witnesses. | Two would-be councillors in Tower Hamlets told reporters that they knew of campaigners who were collecting unsealed postal votes last week – which would be in breach of the rules. But neither provided proof or details of witnesses. |
| A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson said they had received more than 100 complaints in previous elections but do not release numbers or details of complaints. | A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson said they had received more than 100 complaints in previous elections but do not release numbers or details of complaints. |
| "All allegations of fraud are passed to the police for investigation, in line with our elections protocol," he said. | "All allegations of fraud are passed to the police for investigation, in line with our elections protocol," he said. |
| Detectives are investigating an allegation of postal electoral fraud while Jewel Islam, the Conservative council candidate for the Mile End ward, has been arrested. | Detectives are investigating an allegation of postal electoral fraud while Jewel Islam, the Conservative council candidate for the Mile End ward, has been arrested. |
| Police confirmed in March that they had launched an investigation into electoral fraud after bogus canvassers were allegedly spotted canvassing for Rahman. | Police confirmed in March that they had launched an investigation into electoral fraud after bogus canvassers were allegedly spotted canvassing for Rahman. |
| Rahman asked that this article focuses upon his achieved goal of delivering 4,000 affordable homes and new jobs and training opportunities throughout the borough. | |
| "Please judge me on my track record. That is all that matters," he said. | "Please judge me on my track record. That is all that matters," he said. |