Skip to main content

High Court blocks bid by Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman to halt challenge to re-election

Four voters allowed to press on with petition to have election declared void over fraud allegations

A challenge to a recent east London mayoral election will go ahead after the High Court yesterday rejected Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s bid to block it.

Four voters, headed by unsuccessful anti-corruption council candidate Andy Erlam, have launched an election petition to get Mr Rahman’s re-election declared void on fraud allegations.

Lawyers for the Tower Hamlets First party mayor applied for the petition to be dismissed as an abuse of process, saying that sufficient particulars of the allegations were not given.

But Mr Justice Supperstone said it was not appropriate to strike out any of the grounds contained in the petition “for want of sufficient particularity” though they did order further details of their allegations by August 18.

The judges also refused an application by Mr Erlam and his fellow petitioners for the trial of the petition to take place outside Tower Hamlets — at the High Court.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today