A Resounding Win for Lutfur

Lutfur wins on first round votes after an energetic couple of weeks of putting his message out to the people.

During his borough-wide campaign we learnt about his policies and commitments to fair wages, peace and community cohesion. His stated aims created an enthusiastic response from the local community which was reflected in the number of people from all walks of life and all ages, who joined him on ‘walkabouts’, campaigned around the borough, attended the many ‘hustings’ and, finally, came to the polling stations.

Lutfur Rahman, your Independent Mayoral Candidate

“A new generation leads our party, humble about our past and idealistic about our future. It is a generation which thirsts for change. This week, we embark on the journey back to power” says Ed Miliband - But Cllr Lutfur Rahman says ‘My own record proves that together we can achieve and deliver more for the people of Tower Hamlets than any one else.’

Welcome

Hello and thank you for visiting my campaign site “Lutfur for Mayor’. I have decided to stand as an independent candidate for the new Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

“I was brought up in the East End, one of the most deprived parts of London, where, I continue to live and work. I became politically active so as I could help advance the cause of social justice, equality and prosperity in all its manifestations.”

I’ve put myself forward to stand as your Mayor because I’ve lived in Tower Hamlets most of my life and experienced the gains I achieved when I was a Labour Councillor and Council Leader for the borough. Also, as a senior solicitor specialising in family and child protection law, I’ve also seen first hand the human cost when services don’t deliver, and I refuse to let all the improvements that we have all fought hard to achieve in housing, education, community safety and social cohesion be lost to the swingeing cuts being carried out by the current Tory/Lib Dem coalition government.

“My family and I have direct experience of how inaccessible public services can be to some sections of the community. As a result I have, since my early teens, been actively involved with voluntary organisations as my contribution towards helping improve the quality of life in Tower Hamlets.”

As Tower Hamlets will be one of the hardest hit boroughs I know that through my commitment and innovative thinking, we can protect vital services whilst still making the necessary savings. When I was leader of the Council over the past two years, I pushed hard to find new ways to meet the needs of our vibrant and mixed community: Schemes like our £20million ‘Buy Back’ initiative that helped place overcrowded families into good living conditions, like the ‘dealer a day’ drug strategy that’s already secured hundreds of arrests; like the £30million renovation or rebuilding of schools across the borough - including the new build of St Paul’s Way school.

“I am acutely aware that Tower Hamlets needs to sustain its recent improvements in the major health and welfare indicators. We must also prioritise resources for the well-being of the elderly - who are a most valuable part of our community.”

Under my leadership funding in youth services was increased by £1m a year to give our youngsters the skills they can’t learn in the classrooms. And, as someone whose father had to work at two jobs just to make ends meet, I an especially pleased that I was part of a council in London to adopt the ‘London Living Wage’ policy. By keeping Bancroft Library in public hands, securing £10m to regenerate Victoria Park and putting up the cash to begin renovating Poplar Baths I did my best to keep alive the heritage that is crucial to bring a sense of community and belonging in London’s East End.