What you need to know as Tower Hamlets heads into mayor's election
Getty ImagesWhen is the election for mayor of Tower Hamlets, and who is standing?
The election for mayor of Tower Hamlets will be held on Thursday 7 May between 07:00 BST and 22:00.
Tower Hamlets Council will be elected at the same time.
They are:
- Zami Ali - Tower Hamlets Independents
- John Gerald Bullard - Reform UK
- Mohammed Abdul Hannan - Liberal Democrats
- Sirajul Islam - Labour Party
- Hirra Khan Adeogun - Green Party
- Terence McGrenera - Independent
- Dominic Aidan Nolan - Conservative Party
- Hugo Pierre - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Lutfur Rahman - Aspire
What happened in the 2022 election for mayor of Tower Hamlets?
Former mayor Lutfur Rahman was elected with 54.9% of the vote in the second round of counting. The turnout was 41.9%.
The first mayor of Tower Hamlets was elected in 2010.
The former Labour leader of the council, Rahman, who had been barred from standing for Labour, stood as an independent and won the mayoralty in October 2010.
Then at the next set of local elections in 2014 Rahman's supporters, under the new banner of Tower Hamlets First, won 18 seats on the council, plunging Tower Hamlets into no overall control.
Rahman was removed as mayor the following year and the election was declared void, after an election commissioner found Rahman guilty of "corrupt and illegal" election practices, which he denied.
Rahman was banned from standing for election again for five years and the mayoral race was rerun, with Labour's John Biggs becoming the elected mayor in 2015. Labour won back control of the council in 2018.
In 2022 Rahman, having served his ban and now leading a new party called Aspire, won the mayoral election and control of the council.
What does an elected mayor do?
All 32 of London' s boroughs have a mayor, but in most cases their duties are ceremonial. They wear a chain and municipal robes - the position is largely honorary and they have little power.
An elected mayor by contrast has significant powers in their borough.
The mayor is the political leader of the council and they appoint a cabinet made up of elected councillors who are given specific portfolios such as finance, community safety and children's services.
They control local services such as housing, including local regeneration schemes and affordable housing targets, planning and waste collection.
Mayors are elected on their own manifesto and may be a member of a political party or an independent candidate.
The votes for the mayor and the council are held at the same time.
There is a separate mayor of London, currently Sir Sadiq Khan, responsible for police, fire and rescue, Transport for London and strategic matters that affect all 32 London boroughs.
How do I vote for the mayor of Tower Hamlets?
The election will be held on Thursday 7 May between 07:00 BST and 22:00.
If you are not already on the electoral register, you can register to vote here.
The voting system has changed since the last election.
Mayors are now elected using the first-past-the-post system.
You vote for one candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor.
You will be sent a polling card that indicates where you should vote.
You will not be able to vote without ID such as a passport, driving licence, a Freedom Pass or 60+ London Oyster Photocard - more information here.
You can vote by post or by proxy - more information here.
More information about voting eligibility can be found here.
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