“IF THIS IS ‘transparent’ government, we’ll never find out what’s going on,” said Cllr Maium Miah. The Canary Wharf councillor was speaking about his long battle to to find out how the Council decides where to site outdoor gyms. The ...

EACH YEAR for the last five years Oxfam has produced a report on the gap between the richest individuals in the world and the poorest communities – and the news is that the gap is getting bigger. The report is published ...

IT WAS GOOD NEWS for hockey players in Tower Hamlets last week as a new all-weather, floodlit hockey pitch was opened in Mile End Park. It was formally opened by Helen Richardson-Walsh, Olympic gold medal winner, and John Biggs, mayor ...

THERE’S A REVAMPED public space in Bethnal Green – and John Biggs went out to give it a formal opening. He was joined by the London International Gospel Choir, who gave a performance to draw attention to the revamp. The ...

Cllr Ohid Ahmed won an unprecedented victory at the Council meeting on 17th January, when the ruling Labour Group of Councillors not only allowed him to move a motion – but actually supported it! While local historians thumb through the ...

NOMINATIONS FOR THE first Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) opened last week at the House of Lords, with various dignitaries, many of Asian heritage, present to show their support. The launch was hosted by former Tower Hamlets councillor – ...

HISTORY WAS MADE at the meeting of Tower Hamlets Council last night, 17th January. No one was sure if this was the very first opposition motion which Labour had agreed to debate at a Council meeting – but the debate ...

TOWER HAMLETS’ Trading Standards Officers’ faces lit up as they surveyed their latest haul of illicit tobacco – seized from retailers across the borough after a six week long crackdown. Officers went around the borough and made test purchases from ...

GREEN AND ECO-CONSCIOUS mums may well be heading back to Iceland to do their shopping, as the supermarket has announced a war on plastic wrapping. It’s set itself the target of being plastic-free within five years. Campaigners have been pointing ...

IT WAS LUTFUR RAHMAN who promoted the Mayor’s Cup – an annual competition for football teams in Tower Hamlets. John Biggs has been carrying on the tournament. Each year the tournament has raised money which is spent on football teams ...