Council chaos as £1.2bn budget stalls amid Labour infighting and threats of violence

Angry Tower Hamlets residents were left awaiting the outcome of the Council’s £1.2bn budget process after a meeting on 26^th February ended in deadlock and tempestuous scenes in which a councillor was escorted from the building for his own safety by uniformed officers.

The majority Labour Group came to the meeting determined to block Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s proposals but events took a turn for the farcical when it emerged that a key Labour proposal fell £1m short of the required funding.

The largest opposition group descended into recriminations as it was revealed that the plan – to extend free school meals to all primary age children – was budgeted for the financial year not the school year and would leave youngsters unfed for a term.

Labour councillor Anwar Khan, a city trader, turned on his stunned colleagues with a scathing attack on financial proposals he described as “amateurish” and “embarrassing.”  Speaking to press later he said “I represent some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the UK during a time of recession and cuts, I couldn’t vote for such terrible policies.”

Cllr Khan’s speech was interrupted when former Labour leader Joshua Peck forcibly disconnected of Khan’s microphone. A public example, Cllr Khan said, of an established culture of bulling and abusive behaviour amongst Labour councillors.

Cllr Khan said: “I tried to speak on behalf of my constituent and I was literally silenced. If the former Leader of the Group thinks he can behave like that in the Council chamber, imagine what goes on behind closed doors.”

“There’s a diseased culture in Tower Hamlets Labour Party, bullying and intimidation are rife and any Bangladeshi who doesn’t know their place is reminded quickly and ruthlessly.” He was later escorted from the building by uniformed officers after threats of violence from fellow councillors.”

The council will meet again on 6^th March where Labour will need a 2/3 majority to force through their proposals which include delaying a decision on relocating the town hall; bringing back the Victoria Park fireworks display; a 24 hour noise and ASB hotline and, of course, funding free school meals for two terms.

Residents who are hopeful of a trouble-free meeting are likely to be disappointed, however. A statement issued by Labour after the meeting reads: “The current mayor, Lutfur Rahman could have chosen to support these ideas. Unfortunately what we got instead was a lot of bluster and attacks from Rahman and his supporters.” Fighting words if ever there were.