From today, Tower Hamlets residents are paying 5% more in Council Tax. That is despite £39 million more in grant from the Labour Govt and is on top of 5% hikes in each of the past 2 years. In total, Aspire Party's Lutfur Rahman has increased CT by nearly 20% since 2022 despite promising to freeze it

In yesterday's Full Council, Aspire Party cllrs repeatedly claimed anyone earning less than £50,000 a year is protected from their 5% Council Tax increase. When this 'CT Relief Fund' was set up, the Mayor said 19,000 households would get it. This response shows only 143 households did so last year

This week marks a year since the independent 'Best Value' inspection report on Tower Hamlets Council under Mayor Lutfur Rahman was published. The extensive governance failings and "culture of patronage" it revealed led the Govt to send in a team to oversee LBTH. Here's a reminder of the conclusions

A great session this afternoon talking to residents in Cyprus Street. Lots of good conversations, and enthusiasm for voting for Sirajul Islam next May and getting rid of Lutfur Rahman’s failing Tower Hamlets administration. All the best for Remembrance Sunday tomorrow at their war memorial.

Great decision by Tower Hamlets Labour's Cllr Siraj Islam. The Bonfire Night fireworks were the upside to local residents of disruption from commercial events in Victoria Park. To have events, but no fireworks was wrong. Tower Hamlets Council should do more like this to strengthen community cohesion

Great work from Cllr Sirajul Islam and local GLA member Unmesh Desai. The voices of local people have been heard and Bethnal Green police station will keep a counter service.

At tonight's Full Council, Tower Hamlets Labour cllrs will propose a motion committing Tower Hamlets Council to challenge the far right extremists peddling lies to try to provoke disorder outside a hotel accommodating asylum seekers. We hope all cllrs will join us in standing up against this racism

Delighted our Labour Government is investing £39 billion in social and affordable housing. The biggest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation.

Another year another broken promise. Lutfur Rahman can’t be trusted to keep his word; he’s planning to increase Council Tax again, despite what he said to win the last election, and despite a Labour government making millions more available to Tower Hamlets. Big turn out today for Labour’s campaign.

This chart via @jim.londoncentric.media made me think that boroughs like Tower Hamlets should focus their energy on improving the experience and safety of people walking in their area. London has great potential as a walking city but too often the focus is on cycling or public transport or cars. 1/2

Many thanks to the amazing teams of volunteers out and about at the weekend talking to residents and spreading the news about Lutfur Rahman’s inept leadership. Tower Hamlets deserves better than “Aspire”. lutfursleadership.uk

As far as I can tell, Angela Raynor's mistake was to dance and party while on holiday rather than during lockdown.