Abdal sweeps the board

The Poplar & Limehouse Constituency Labour Party met last Tuesday to choose one candidate – from a long list of 18 – to put on the Labour Party’s ballot paper, from which members will chose who will be the Labour candidate for the City & East GLA seat next May.

Tower Hamlets’ Abdal Ullah was a clear favourite, winning over 51% of the total votes in the first round. Abdal received 94 votes, beating Howard Dawber, a Strategic Adviser to the Canary Wharf Group, who came second with 40 votes.

Abdal has already demonstrated his skills on the London stage having served as the first ever British Bangladeshi member of the Metropolitan Police Authority for six years. He was also a councillor in Tower Hamlets, holding Cabinet posts under three different Labour leaders.

Abdal Ullah said: “I am humbled that my local CLP has put my name forward for the final ballot to be the GLA candidate for City & East. I look forward to working with all members on the next stage of the campaign. I believe I am the candidate with most experience across London, and with your support, I will be your champion in City Hall.”

Over the coming days and weeks, Abdal will be busy speaking to members of Labour Party to thank them and seek their support and is he is encouraged by the enthusiasm with which well wishers have responded to his selection.