Election Court to hear petition over mayoral election at Tower Hamlets

An Election Court will this week hear a petition over the running of the mayoral contest in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in May 2014.

Judge Richard Mawrey QC will hear the petition against the Mayor, Lutfur Rahman, and the council’s returning officer.

Four residents of the borough – Andy Erlam, Debbie Simone, Azmal Hussein and Angela Moffat – are behind the challenge.

They have made a number of allegations over the conduct election, all of which have been rejected by the Mayor and the returning officer.

The petitioners were given permission to bring the case in July 2014 by Mr Justice Supperstone and Mr Justice Spence.

Lead Petitioner Andy Erlam said: “There are serious questions about last May’s Mayoral election in Tower Hamlets that need answers, and the proper place to answer them, is in the election court.”

UPDATE: It has been reported by the Municipal Journal that the allegations against the returning officer have been withdrawn.