Biggs joins Wales | Local Action Develops

The story about how Labour Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs allegedly rigged the trigger ballot affirmation vote by Labour Party Members against him in his favour – what many still believe was unconstitutional, immoral and quite probably unlawful manner will not go away. Now some party members are challenging the Biggs selection which saw John Biggs re-selected as the Labour candidate for the position of Mayor in May 2018. A press conference taking place tomorrow, details below. 

Despite what many believe to be Del Boy deals by Mayor John Biggs, he lost the popular vote among the party members who were quite clearly fed up of his lack of leadership, incompetence, Neo-Liberal policy choices bereft of any true Labour vision. But Biggs was bailed out by Progress (a right of centre pressure group within Labour Party who supported Blair and is against Momentum) and affiliates – mainly trade unions like CWU and the Unison etc. To complicate matters, Biggs apparently bought off some local Tower Hamlets Momentum members previously campaigning against him by giving them a lollipop by supporting them in securing councillor candidacy for May 2018 election thereby effectively buying their silence and support but the are not many, only a few. A significant number of ordinary left-wing members and wider ideological Momentum still remain bitterly opposed to John Biggs policy choices and Neo-Liberal decisions as Labour Mayor John Biggs continue to face the charges of collusion with the Tories who voted for him in 2015, and championing Tory austerity in his brutal budget cuts despite inheriting £409m reserve.

Since becoming the Labour Mayor, John Biggs has given himself 12% pay increase (extra £12,000 in his pocket), gifted 40% pay increase for local Tory leader, who with other Tories supported him in 2015 election and continues to do so, increased residents’ council tax by 9%, cut vital resident and other services by £75m, removed free home-care for vulnerable, removed burial subsidy, slashed funding for Children Services, Adult Social Care, Youth Service and suffered the indignity of being rated as one of the worst performing authority by OFSTED – all of which was not the case under the former Mayor despite many other politically motivated charges.

Biggs also had to provide serious explanation to come clean about his conduct in relation to alleged £2m bribery scandal uncovered by The Sunday Times but reservations still remain as the National Crime Agency – UK’S FBI – investigates the £2m bribery allegation surrounding the potential involvement of Biggs-controlled (by virtue of him being the leader of the local Labour party/group in Tower Hamlets who have a strong say in or appoints members) to all-powerful Strategic Planning Committee with Tower Hamlets Labour Chair and Labour majority on this committee that decides upon all multi-million pounds property development applications.

In the latest development, possibly learning from the successful Newham experience, an urgent press conference to highlight unconstitutional acts has been called with a view to legally challenge Biggs selection. Do the ordinary voters and these challengers have the funding to sustain this against ‘the might of Biggs’ and his Tammany Hall politics? Will Momentum support this seemingly just and fair cause as they know very well what took place and it was not pretty.  Will they remain tight-lipped and see how it goes to side with the winner or stand up with for the principles and against the injustice? And how about Progress – surely they have to adjust course as well to survive locally or will they remain dogged but potentially costly supporter of Biggs?

In any case, a bit of organisation, social media updates, a good lawyer – with integrity and discipline – these ordinary people might, just might, just might, become unlikely heroes. It’s a very tall order but not impossible. If they secure evidence or statements, an injunction could be a fairly quick process but an expensive one however if the cost is spread around then it’s a lot easier. But if they can show a reasonably strong case, Labour Party might have to play ball to stop Newham 2 in Tower Hamlets. They should learn from previous such experiences to expand their campaign in a broad church approach for maximum possible support.

Urgent Press Conference Invitation:

Dear all,

We are inviting you to the urgent press conference details below) against the unconstitutional acts on the Tower Hamlets Labour Mayoral trigger ballots and current petition and legal action about this serious issues on 23rd February , Friday , 2pm at SHAD grill restaurant on Brick Lane Nesar Sunali Bank (Lunch will be provided) your presence much appreciated.

Regards,

Ala Uddin (Ex Deputy Leader, Tower Hamlets council), 07958 314029

Nizam Uddin , Ashfaq Ahmed and Zia Hoque.