bdnews24.com :
Fresh allegations of fraud and voter intimidation in last May’s Tower Hamlets election have been brought against beleaguered Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
The new claims that will be deliberated upon in an election court hearing range from a Labour supporter having been spat in the face to free lunches being offered to draw votes.
But Britain’s first Muslim mayor with popular mandate has issued a statement rejecting the claims as unsubstantiated, cynical, politically motivated
attacks, ‘The Guardian’ said on its website. The Bangladeshi-born Rahman, who ran for the post as an independent candidate, also faces accusations that his canvassers were paid by his election agent in the lead-up to the election in the east London borough.
‘The London Evening Post’ said Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey QC was also hearing a High Court claim brought by residents who wanted a rerun of the election on the grounds that Rahman beat Labour rival John Briggs by means of electoral fraud.
The trial will take place on February 2.
The venue for the hearing has been moved from Tower Hamlets to the Royal Courts of Justice in central London as the former could not be regarded as a “neutral venue”, ‘The Guardian’ reported.
Four Tower Hamlets residents moved the petition against Rahman. In November, a government-commissioned investigation found evidence of financial irregularities in the Tower Hamlets council. It also found a “lack of transparency” in the process of awarding grants.
Fresh allegations of fraud and voter intimidation in last May’s Tower Hamlets election have been brought against beleaguered Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
The new claims that will be deliberated upon in an election court hearing range from a Labour supporter having been spat in the face to free lunches being offered to draw votes.
But Britain’s first Muslim mayor with popular mandate has issued a statement rejecting the claims as unsubstantiated, cynical, politically motivated
attacks, ‘The Guardian’ said on its website. The Bangladeshi-born Rahman, who ran for the post as an independent candidate, also faces accusations that his canvassers were paid by his election agent in the lead-up to the election in the east London borough.
‘The London Evening Post’ said Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey QC was also hearing a High Court claim brought by residents who wanted a rerun of the election on the grounds that Rahman beat Labour rival John Briggs by means of electoral fraud.
The trial will take place on February 2.
The venue for the hearing has been moved from Tower Hamlets to the Royal Courts of Justice in central London as the former could not be regarded as a “neutral venue”, ‘The Guardian’ reported.
Four Tower Hamlets residents moved the petition against Rahman. In November, a government-commissioned investigation found evidence of financial irregularities in the Tower Hamlets council. It also found a “lack of transparency” in the process of awarding grants.
