Mayor of Tower Hamlets#2018

The proposal to change the status of the borough from one with a leader and cabinet to one with an executive mayor was initially opposed by all the main political parties and was an initiative only proposed and supported by the Respect Party. Islamic Forum Europe organised a petition to trigger a referendum for this change. Council officers stated that almost half the signatures were invalid, with entire pages bearing the same handwriting. Despite the flaws in the petition, there were sufficient valid signatures for the council to accept it, and a referendum was held on 6 May 2010 simultaneously with the voting in the United Kingdom general election. The referendum was passed after an intensive campaign.

{{Referendum

| title = Mayor of Tower Hamlets Referendum
6 May 2010

| option1 = Elected Mayor

| yes = 60,758

| yespct = 59.67

| option2 = Cabinet System

| no = 39,857

| nopct = 39.15

| invalidname = Ballot paper(s) rejected

| invalid = 1,203

| invalidpct = 1.18

| total = 100,615

| turnoutpct = 62.1

| source = https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=147&RPID=0

}}

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph on 17 October, Andrew Gilligan represented the forthcoming election as the first big test for the recently elected Labour leader Ed Miliband, given the possibility of an independent candidate defeating the official Labour candidate in a strong Labour borough. Gilligan also said that it raised concerns over the political power of radical Islam in the UK, because of candidate Lutfur Rahman's connections with Islamic Forum Europe. The latter, along with local business interests which had supported the petition and referendum to have a mayor, prominently backed Rahman's campaign.{{cite web|last=Gilligan |first=Andrew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8068839/PICS-AND-PUBLISH-Tower-Hamlets-extremist-vote-poses-Eds-first-big-election-test.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018183949/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8068839/PICS-AND-PUBLISH-Tower-Hamlets-extremist-vote-poses-Eds-first-big-election-test.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2010 |title=Tower Hamlets extremist vote poses Ed Miliband's first big election test |publisher=Sunday Telegraph |date=17 October 2010 |access-date=2010-10-18}} Labour's former London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, also campaigned in support of Rahman, in breach of Labour Party rules.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11569758 |title=Ken Livingstone campaigning for non-Labour candidate |work=BBC News |date=18 October 2010 |access-date=4 December 2010}}

{{Referendum

| title = London Borough of Tower Hamlets Referendum on the Councils Governance Model.
6 May 2021

| option1 = Keep,

By a mayor who is elected by voters.

| yes = 63,029

| yespct = 74.66

| option2 = Change,

By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors.

| no = 17,951

| nopct = 21.26

| invalidname = Ballot paper(s) rejected

| invalid = 3,444

| invalidpct = 4.08

| source = https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-council/referendum-result-to-keep-tower-hamlets-mayor-7958210

}}

The first election took place on Thursday 21 October 2010, with a 25.6 per cent turn out.{{cite web | url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/701-750/721_election_results.aspx | title=Mayoral election result, 21 October 2010 | date=October 2010 |access-date= 2010-12-14 | publisher=Tower Hamlets London Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702180001/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/701-750/721_election_results.aspx | url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-07-02 }} The new mayor officially took office on Monday 25 October 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/council_boss_in_charge_until_new_tower_hamlets_mayor_takes_charge_on_monday_1_687541 |title=Council boss in charge until new Tower Hamlets mayor takes charge on Monday |access-date= 2010-12-14 |date=21 October 2010 |publisher=East London Advertiser |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104182320/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/council_boss_in_charge_until_new_tower_hamlets_mayor_takes_charge_on_monday_1_687541 |url-status=live |archive-date=2010-11-04 }}

{{Election box supplementary vote begin

|title=Tower Hamlets mayoral election 21 October 2010

|source= }}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Lutfur Rahman

| fullwidthvotes=23283 | r1votes=23283| r1votespercent=51.8

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Helal Uddin Abbas

| fullwidthvotes=23283 | r1votes=11254| r1votespercent=25.0

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Neil King

| fullwidthvotes=23283 | r1votes=5348| r1votespercent=11.9

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = John Griffiths

| fullwidthvotes=23283 | r1votes=2800| r1votespercent=6.2

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Alan Duffell

| fullwidthvotes=23283 | r1votes=2300| r1votespercent=5.1

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote turnout with spoilt

|votes = 46,719

|percentage = 25.60%

|spoilt = 1,734

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote registered electors|

|reg. electors = 182,482

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote win

|winner = Independent (politician)

}}

{{Election box end}}

In April 2015, this election was declared void by an election court.

{{Election box supplementary vote begin

| title = Tower Hamlets Mayoral Election 22 May 2014 (since declared void by an election court)

| source= {{cite web |url=http://moderngov.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=3218517 |title=Tower Hamlets Mayoral Election – Thursday, 22nd May, 2014 |publisher=Tower Hamlets Council |access-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213346/http://moderngov.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=3218517 |archive-date=25 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Tower Hamlets First

| candidate = Lutfur Rahman

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes= 36539 | r1votespercent=43.38 |r2votes=856| totalpercent=52.27%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Labour Party (UK)

| candidate = John Biggs

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=27643 | r1votespercent=32.82 |r2votes=6500| totalpercent=47.73%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Conservative Party (UK)

| candidate = Christopher Wilford| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=7173 | r1votespercent=8.52 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = UK Independence Party

| candidate = Nicholas M^cQueen

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=4819 | r1votespercent=5.72 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Green Party of England and Wales

| candidate = Chris Smith

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=4699 | r1votespercent=5.58 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

| candidate = Reetendra Banerji

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=1959 | r1votespercent=2.33 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

| candidate = Hugo Pierre

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=871 | r1votespercent=1.03 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Independent politician

| candidate = Reza Choudhury

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=205 | r1votespercent=0.24 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Independent politician

| candidate = Mohammed Khan

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=164 | r1votespercent=0.19 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Independent politician

| candidate = Hafiz Kadir

| fullwidthvotes= 37395 | r1votes=162 | r1votespercent=0.19 |

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote turnout with spoilt

|votes = 86,540

|percentage = 47.58%

|spoilt = 2,306

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote registered electors|

|reg. electors = 181,871

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote void}}

{{Election box end}}

After the 2014 election was declared void, a new election was held on 11 June 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32428648 |title=Tower Hamlets election fraud mayor Lutfur Rahman removed from office |publisher=BBC |date=23 April 2015 |access-date=30 April 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/judgment.pdf |via=BBC News |title=In the matter of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and in the matter of a Mayoral Election for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets held on 22 May 2014 |author=Richard Mawrey QC |publisher=High Court of Justice |date=23 April 2015 |id=M/350/14 |access-date=11 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/council_and_democracy/elections__voting/election_2015/mayoral_and_stepney_green.aspx |title=Mayoral and Stepney Green elections 2015 |website=Tower Hamlets |access-date=2015-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190212/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/council_and_democracy/elections__voting/election_2015/mayoral_and_stepney_green.aspx |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid%3Dd7835411-0206-499b-8307-311b86b29742%26version%3D-1 |title=Statement of Persons Nominated - London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Election of a Mayor of Tower Hamlets |first1=John S. |last1=Williams |date=15 May 2015 |website=Tower Hamlets |access-date=2015-05-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613175324/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=d7835411-0206-499b-8307-311b86b29742&version=-1 |archive-date=13 June 2015 |df=dmy }}

{{Election box supplementary vote begin |

|title=Tower Hamlets Mayoral by-election, 2015{{cite web|url=http://moderngov.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=116&RPID=5892411 |title=Election results for Tower Hamlets |publisher=Tower Hamlets Council |date=2015-06-11 |access-date=2016-08-08}}}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Biggs{{cite web|author=Sebastian Mann |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/lutfur-rahman-labour-selects-john-biggs-to-stand-in-rerun-tower-hamlets-election-10204054.html |title=Lutfur Rahman: Labour selects John Biggs to stand in re-run Tower Hamlets election |publisher=Evening Standard |date=2015-04-25 |access-date=2016-08-08}}

|r1votes = 27255

|r1votespercent = 40.00

|r2votes = 5499

|r2votespercent = 89.85

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

|totalpercent = 55.39%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Rabina Khan{{cite news |url=http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2015/05/rabina-khan-to-stand-as-independent-candidate-in-re-run-tower-hamlets-mayoral-election/ |title=Rabina Khan to stand as 'independent candidate' in re-run Tower Hamlets mayoral election |author=Lauren Rickard |newspaper=Eastlondonlines |date=5 May 2015 |access-date=6 May 2015}}

|r1votes = 25763

|r1votespercent = 37.81

|r2votes = 621

|r2votespercent = 10.15

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

|totalpercent = 44.61%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Peter Golds

|r1votes = 5940

|r1votespercent = 8.72

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = John FosterTower Hamlets Green Party, http://towerhamlets.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/04/29/john-foster-selected-to-fight-re-run-tower-hamlets-mayoral-election-for-green-party/

|r1votes = 2678

|r1votespercent = 3.93

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Elaine Bagshaw

|r1votes = 2152

|r1votespercent = 3.16

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate|

|party = Red Flag Anti-Corruption

|candidate = Andy Erlam

|r1votes = 1768

|r1votespercent = 2.59

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = United Kingdom Independence Party

|candidate = Nicholas M^cQueen

|r1votes = 1669

|r1votespercent = 2.45

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Hafiz Kadir

|r1votes = 316

|r1votespercent = 0.46

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link|

|party = Animal Welfare Party

|candidate = Vanessa Hudson

|r1votes = 305

|r1votespercent = 0.45

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Md. Motiur Rahman Nanu

|r1votes = 292

|r1votespercent = 0.43

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 32754

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote turnout with spoilt

|votes = 69,643

|percentage = 37.73%

|spoilt = 1,505

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote registered electors|

|reg. electors = 184,563

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote gain

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Independent (politician)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Councillor Rabina Khan initially announced that she would stand as the Tower Hamlets First candidate.{{cite news |url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/rabina_khan_takes_on_fight_for_sacked_mayor_rahman_for_tower_hamlets_re_run_election_1_4056687 |title=Rabina Khan takes on fight for sacked mayor Rahman for Tower Hamlets re-run election |author=Mike Brooke |newspaper=Docklands and East London Advertiser |date=1 May 2015 |access-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504000945/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/rabina_khan_takes_on_fight_for_sacked_mayor_rahman_for_tower_hamlets_re_run_election_1_4056687 |archive-date= May 4, 2015 }} However, as a result of findings in the election court case against Lutfur Rahman, Tower Hamlets First was removed from the register of political parties by the Electoral Commission as the party was not operating a responsible financial scheme and the running of the party did not follow the documentation given in the party's registration.{{cite news |url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/rahman_s_tower_hamlets_first_is_removed_from_electoral_commission_s_party_register_1_4054899 |title=Rahman's 'Tower Hamlets First' is removed from Electoral Commission's party register |author=Mike Brooke |newspaper=Docklands and East London Advertiser |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150502190416/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/rahman_s_tower_hamlets_first_is_removed_from_electoral_commission_s_party_register_1_4054899 |archive-date= May 2, 2015 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-corporate/media-statement-on-removal-of-tower-hamlets-first-from-the-electoral-commissions-register-of-political-parties |title=Media statement on removal of Tower Hamlets First from the Electoral Commission's register of political parties |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100244/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-corporate/media-statement-on-removal-of-tower-hamlets-first-from-the-electoral-commissions-register-of-political-parties |archive-date= May 18, 2015 }} Khan subsequently stood as an independent candidate.

Andy Erlam is a writer and film-maker who led the legal action against Rahman which resulted in the previous election being declared void. He had previously stood elsewhere as a Parliamentary candidate{{cite web|author=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/26/leader-legal-fight-tower-hamlets-mayor-lutfur-rahman-run-for-office |title=Leader of legal fight against Tower Hamlets mayor to run for office |work=The Guardian |date=2015-04-26 |access-date=2016-08-08}}

for Labour,{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} then as the first candidate fielded by "Red Flag Anti-Corruption" in the Tower Hamlets Council elections on 22 May 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2014/12/angry-petitioner-demands-removal-of-election-officer/|title=Campaigner demands removal of returning officer – Eastlondonlines|website=www.eastlondonlines.co.uk}}

Red Flag Anti-Corruption had also fielded two parliamentary candidates in the 2015 UK general election,{{cite web |url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=8fb32d5a-f086-4374-ad69-239638f00240&version=-1 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-04-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415190648/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=8fb32d5a-f086-4374-ad69-239638f00240&version=-1 |archivedate=2015-04-15 }} Jason Pavlou for Bethnal Green and Bow and Rene Claudel Mugenzi for Poplar and Limehouse, both within Tower Hamlets.

Liberal Democrat Elaine Bagshaw and UKIP candidate Nicholas McQueen both stood for their respective parties in Poplar and Limehouse at the 2015 general election.

{{Election box supplementary vote begin |

|title=Tower Hamlets mayoral election 3 May 2018{{cite web|title=Election results for Tower Hamlets, 3 May 2018|url=http://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=126&RPID=12705050|publisher=Tower Hamlets Council|access-date=4 May 2018|language=en|date=3 May 2018}}}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Biggs

|r1votes = 37619

|r1votespercent = 48.43

|r2votes = 7246

|r2votespercent = 65.81

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

|totalpercent = 72.66%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = People's Alliance of Tower Hamlets

|candidate = Rabina Khan

|r1votes = 13113

|r1votespercent = 16.88

|r2votes = 3765

|r2votespercent = 34.19

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

|totalpercent = 27.34%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Aspire (political party)

|candidate = Ohid Ahmed

|r1votes = 11109

|r1votespercent = 14.30

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Anwara Ali

|r1votes = 6149

|r1votespercent = 7.92

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Elaine Bagshaw

|r1votes = 5598

|r1votespercent = 7.21

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Ciaran Jebb

|r1votes = 3365

|r1votespercent = 4.33

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

|candidate = Hugo Pierre

|r1votes = 728

|r1votespercent = 0.94

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 44865

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote turnout with spoilt

|votes = 80,252

|percentage = 41.96%

|spoilt = 2,571

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote registered electors

|reg. electors = 191,244

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote hold

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

John Biggs defended the seat for Labour. Following a split in the former Tower Hamlets First group, Cllr Rabina Khan stood again, as the candidate for her new party, the People's Alliance of Tower Hamlets (PATH) while Cllr Ohid Ahmed stood for Aspire, which emerged from the post-Tower Hamlets First Tower Hamlets Independent Group.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/rivals-for-tower-hamlets-mayor-vote-in-tug-of-war-with-oaps-in-row-over-protocol-breach-1-5423792|title = Tower Hamlets mayor election rivals in tug-of-war as 'breach of protocol' row erupts|date = 7 March 2018}} The Conservative Party selected Anwara Ali MBE, a local GP{{Cite web|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/europe/2018/02/21/conservative-party-nominate-anwara-tower-hamlets-mayor/|title = Conservative party nominates Dr Anwara Ali for Tower Hamlets' mayor|date = 21 February 2018}} and, until 2010, local Labour councillor."Knife crime and corruption weigh heavy on minds of East End voters", by Rachael Burford, Evening Standard, 2 May 2018, p. 14 The Liberal Democrats selected Elaine Bagshaw, their 2015 candidate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.towerhamletslibdems.org.uk/liberal_democrats_elect_elaine_bagshaw_as_mayoral_candidate|title=Liberal Democrats Elect Elaine Bagshaw as Mayoral Candidate|first=Gareth Lewis|last=Shelton|website=Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats}} In August 2018, Khan wound up PATH and joined the Liberal Democrats.{{cite news |title=Rabina Khan joins Liberal Democrats |url=http://eastlondonnews.co.uk/rabina-khan-joins-liberal-democrats/ |work=East London News}}

Biggs sought to defend his seat for Labour. In January 2022, Liberal Democrat councillor Rabina Khan was announced as the party's candidate for the mayoralty.{{Cite web|last=Doughty|first=Ellie|date=2022-01-17|title=Lib Dem candidate for Tower Hamlets mayor announced|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/lib-dems-mayor-candidate-2022-rabina-khan-8626024|access-date=2022-01-22|website=East London Advertiser|language=en-UK}} Independent councillor Andrew Wood, who had resigned from the Conservative group in 2020, announced he would stand for election as both a councillor and mayor.{{Cite web|last=LDRS|first=Alastair Lockhart|date=2022-01-21|title=Councillor says he 'hopes to lose' next election|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-council/andrew-wood-on-tower-hamlets-election-8638014|access-date=2022-02-22|website=East London Advertiser|language=en-UK}} Former mayor of the borough, Lutfur Rahman, announced his candidacy for the Aspire party in February 2022.{{Cite web|last=Lydall|first=Ross|date=2022-02-21|title=Disgraced former Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman to stand again|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/disgraced-former-tower-hamlets-mayor-lutfur-rahman-stand-again-b983642.html|access-date=2022-02-21|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}} Rahman's five-year ban from standing for election, having been found guilty by an election court of "corrupt and illegal practices", had elapsed.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Dave|date=2020-11-12|title=Tower Hamlets: Return of Lutfur Rahman?|url=https://www.onlondon.co.uk/tower-hamlets-return-of-lutfur-rahman/|access-date=2021-10-22|website=OnLondon|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|date=2015-04-23|title=Tower Hamlets election fraud mayor Lutfur Rahman removed from office|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-32428648|access-date=2021-10-22}} He was endorsed at his formal campaign launch in March by the former mayor of London Ken Livingstone and the peer Pola Uddin.{{Cite web |last=Baynes |first=Mark |date=2022-03-17 |title="I Would Trust Lutfur Rahman With My Life" says Ken Livingstone |url=https://www.eastendenquirer.org/2022/03/i-would-trust-lutfur-rahman-with-my-life-says-ken-livingstone/ |website=East End Enquirer}} Rahman won the election with a final vote share of 54.9%, unseating incumbent John Biggs and taking the mayoralty for the second time.

{{Election box supplementary vote begin |

|title=Tower Hamlets mayoral election 5 May 2022{{cite web|title=Election results for Tower Hamlets, 5 May 2022|url=https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=176|publisher=Tower Hamlets Council|access-date=6 May 2022|language=en|date=6 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Democracy/Elections/Mayor.docx |title=Statement of Persons Nominated |publisher=Tower Hamlets Council |date=6 April 2022 |access-date=15 July 2024}}}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Aspire (political party)

|candidate = Lutfur Rahman

|r1votes = 39533

|r1votespercent = 46.99

|r2votes = 1271

|r2votespercent = 18.52

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

|totalpercent = 54.90%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Labour and Co-operative Party

|candidate = John Biggs

|r1votes = 27894

|r1votespercent = 33.20

|r2votes = 5593

|r2votespercent = 81.50

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

|totalpercent = 45.10%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Rabina Khan

|r1votes = 6430

|r1votespercent = 7.65

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Elliott Weaver

|r1votes = 4269

|r1votespercent = 5.07

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Andrew Wood

|r1votes = 3985

|r1votespercent = 4.74

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

|candidate = Hugo Pierre

|r1votes = 1462

|r1votespercent = 1.74

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Pamela Holmes

|r1votes = 552

|r1votespercent = 0.66

|change =

| fullwidthvotes= 40804

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote turnout with spoilt

|votes = 84,125

|percentage = 41.92%

|spoilt = 1,864

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote registered electors

|reg. electors = 205,189

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote gain

|winner = Aspire (political party)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Directly elected mayors in the United Kingdom}}

{{London Borough of Tower Hamlets}}

*

*

Tower Hamlets