[1andrew1]

This to me was one of the worst outcomes in the local elections

East London mayor re-elected despite ban for ‘corrupt and illegal practices’

A former mayor who was forced to step down due to ‘corrupt and illegal practices’ has been relected.

Lutfur Rahman, of the Aspire party, came out on top in Tower Hamlets, London.

He was previously banned from running for mayor after a 2015 trial in an election court.

However, he never faced criminal prosecution.

During the trial, election commissioner Richard Mawrey said evidence aired revealed an ‘alarming state of affairs’ in Tower Hamlets.

As a result of the ruling, Mr Rahman was forced to stand down as the borough’s mayor, and a relection was won by Labour’s John Biggs.

But yesterday, Mr Rahman took back his old role after defeating the incumbent Mr Biggs.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/07/londo...-ban-16602772/

From 2015:

Tower Hamlets election fraud mayor Lutfur Rahman removed from office

An east London mayor has been removed from office and a poll declared void after he was found guilty of electoral fraud.

An Election Commissioner concluded Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman breached election rules and must vacate his post immediately.

Four voters alleged he used "corrupt and illegal practices" in last year's election, which must now be re-run.

Mr Rahman, who denied any wrong-doing, has been banned from standing again.

At the special High Court hearing, Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey also ordered Mr Rahman to pay £250,000 in costs.

One of Mr Rahman's aides, Alibor Choudhury, was also found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices.

Tower Hamlets First, Mr Rahman's party, said the judgement was a "shock" and it was seeking further legal advice in relation to a judicial review.

Mr Mawrey - who sat as a judge - said the mayor had "driven a coach and horses through election law and didn't care".

In the Election Court judgement, he said the effect of his ruling that Mr Rahman's election was void meant it was as if the election "had never taken place" and he had not lawfully been mayor since he was re-elected for a second term on 24 May 2014.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32428648