As London’s first mayor, I opened our city up to the world. And after I left office, Lutfur picked up my legacy and continued it in Tower Hamlets — funding bobbies on the beat, expanding public services amid austerity cuts, paying the Living Wage, and building more affordable housing than anywhere else in the country. He is ambitious for Tower Hamlets on the world stage, and for its youngsters to be our leaders of the future

Tower Hamlets was once transformed by Labour. But today’s administration is more reminiscent of the era of hopelessness and service failures that me and my colleagues fought against in the discredited Liberal administration. A borough famed for opposing fascism and racism appears to no longer address their corrosive effects. As the first Bangladeshi woman councillor and a former deputy council leader, I can see that now, more than ever, we need a dynamic visionary mayor who puts this borough first. Take this opportunity to vote for change.

We continue to live with the crippling effects of austerity, and change is needed more than ever. Lutfur’s return is very good news – his record in this borough is second to none. He showed himself committed to improving the lives of ordinary people. On his watch, local schools became nationally recognised centres of excellence.

It was a pleasure meeting Lutfur Rahman again. I recall his record of supporting Black and impoverished communities when he was Mayor of Tower Hamlets. These troubled times call for leadership and people of action.

Lutfur alone can stand on his own record

I am voting for Lutfur Rahman and Aspire. If I could turn the clock back and have the level of services that were available when he was Mayor, I would in a shot. I have lived my life (70 years), am fortunate, but I fear for the young EastEnders. The youth without focus, the easily available drugs, the soaring rents, the terrible conditions people live in under due to failings by Housing Associations. The list goes on. Labour has comprehensively failed the people of Tower Hamlets and enough is enough. More of the same simply will not do.