Results tagged “Election”

By Jim Fitzpatrick

Parliament operates at so many different levels. Prime Minister's Questions, debates, committees, all-party groups' meetings on every conceivable subject. And we are open to all. This week I've been lobbied by a constituent asking me to support the Tory rebels on Europe; teachers lobbying on the unfairness of the Tory-led Coalition's proposals for their pensions and youngsters making a film about youth unemployment. 

Newly-elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, has made the first appointments to his cabinet.

Mr Rahman, who became the borough's first directly elected mayor in controversial circumstances last month, confirmed four posts at his first cabinet meeting last night.

There will be five candidates fighting it out to become Tower Hamlets first directly elected mayor next month.

Nominations for the election, which will be held on October 21, closed this afternoon, with candidates from the three main political parties joined by a Green and an independent.

By John Biggs

Just when you get over one election, another one comes along - in seven weeks' time, Tower Hamlets residents will elect a powerful new elected Mayor.

This is different from the traditional ceremonial Mayor, with a chain, who attends civic events. It's an elected leader, with most of the power the council currently has.

By Jim Fitzpatrick

Firstly, thanks to all Wharf readers who voted, but especially those who voted for me to continue as MP for this area. I'm very grateful for your support.

But Labour lost, so in the Commons chamber the view is different from the Opposition benches, as is the feel.

Sir Robin Wales has won a third term as directly elected Mayor of Newham.

The results of yesterday's election were announced this afternoon, with Sir Robin gaining 64,748 votes and a huge majority of 49,418 over nearest rival, Conservative Maria Allen.

Labour's Jim Fitzpatrick has hung onto his Parliamentary seat and beat Respect's George Galloway into third in the process.

Mr Fitzpatrick polled 18,679 votes, while Conservative candidate Tim Archer came second with 12,649. Mr Galloway received 8,160 votes.

Labour's Nick Raynsford has held on to his seat in Greenwich and Woolwich, despite a 5.1 per cent swing towards Conservative.

Mr Raynsford secured 49.2 per cent of the vote, earning 20,262 votes compared to Tory Spencer Drury's 24.5 per cent, with 10,109 votes.

Labour have come out second best in the national polls but residents in Docklands are still awaiting news on who will represent them for the next Parliamentary term.

The only result so far known in the local region is in Greenwich and Woolwich where Labour's Nick Raynsford held on to his seat despite a 5.1 per cent swing towards Conservative.

Last week saw leading candidates for the Poplar and Limehouse Parliamentary seat Tim Archer, George Galloway and Jim Fitzpatrick battle it out at a hustings.

Next Tuesday will be the turn of the other candidates at the Cruising Association in Limehouse, including Independent Jim Thornton, pictured.

It was a political event with a fight, plenty of shouting and a biscuit to round the day off - it could only mean John Prescott was in town.

The Labour MP, who will stand down after next month's election, was visiting the party's offices by Chrisp Street Market as part of the campaign trail on Thursday morning.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown met East London residents at the Bromley-By-Bow Centre today.

The centre provides a range of services for the nearby community including support in setting up new social enterprises.

By Andrew Williams

As feverish speculation mounts about election winners, losers and hung parliaments, green issues are set to be a key battleground in the vote.

Whether it's campaigners opposed to a third runway at Heathrow and expansion at City Airport, or lobbyists for reductions in fuel duty, green arguments will be used by all sides to justify decisions which could shape the future of our country.

By John Biggs

The Mayor is half-way through his term of office and it is a good time to check how he has fared against his promises.

It is a topical time too, as the voters reflect on who you think should be trusted with your support. And so at City Hall we recently discussed the scoresheet with the Mayor.

By Tim Archer

A budget has to balance sooner or later; black holes cannot be financed forever and they cannot be ignored. It's therefore interesting that the Labour-run council chose to overlook the fact that its books contain a £54million gap. Putting that into context, council tax in Tower Hamlets would have to rise by almost 30 per cent a year for the next three years just to plug that gap.

By Jim Fitzpatrick

It's nearly time for the General Election and we have council elections, too, and a referendum on a directly elected Mayor in Tower Hamlets.

In the Mayoral referendum, I'll be voting "No". The local council has been performing well, with huge challenges. It's been regarded as a Beacon Council for over five years now.

The next young mayor of Tower Hamlets will be announced at the Town Hall on January 21.

There are currently 15 candidates vying for the post, which is elected by young people aged 11 to 18 living, working or studying in the borough.

Tower Hamlets looks set to follow neighbouring borough Newham and have a directly-elected mayor.

The council has bowed to pressure from residents and will hold a referendum next year on the issue.

By Tim Archer

Events in Iran remind us how precious democracy is. Recognition of the result of an election and the orderly transition from one administration to another must surely be the acid test of any democracy. Recent events in domestic politics have caused many to question what our elected representatives have been doing for us.

FOR ISLAND voters, the first fruits of their labours trickled in at around noon with the election of a new Millwall councillor.

The Wharf chased the action from Royal Docks to Tower Bridge as Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign as Mayor came to an end.

Boris takes City Hall

By the time City and East had officially thrown its weight behind Labour at around 10pm, the capital's media were already confidently predicting victory for the Conservative candidate Boris Johnson.

Many betting firms started paying out on the blue challenger before 10am on Friday (May 2), suggesting a rout may be on the cards for two-term Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Labour's candidate actually finished with a far higher total number of votes than he managed in his comfortable 2004 victory. But the presence of a well-known contender not only denied him a third term in office, but attracted the highest voter turnout among Londoners since the mayoral post was created in 2000.