Following in Smith’s footsteps?

Harry Palmer looks at Lutfur Rahman’s policy record.

There are many reasons to wish Lutfur Rahman success in this coming election. But there is greater national significance beyond just its effects in Tower Hamlets. It was 20 years ago this week that John Smith died and the Labour Party was hijacked by people who have since preached neo-conservative dogma. One of their main principles has been a calculated and callous indifference to the people who voted for them – coupled with a fervent conviction that Labour’s “natural” supporters will carry on voting for the party because they have nowhere else to go.

In contrast, Lutfur Rahman’s achievements benefit and protect all the groups that have traditionally supported Labour but whom Labour has not supported since the start of the Blair years. Continuing John Smith’s traditional principles, on a local level, Rahman has carried out traditional Labour Party policies with success and flair, protecting the citizenry from the worst depredations of Conservative and Coalition austerity measures.

His record in Tower Hamlets includes free home care for the elderly, free school meals for children, grants for poorer students at university, improving state schools to be the third best in the country and even keeping the streets of a poor borough in good enough condition to win a Keep Britain Tidy Award. Add to that the London Living Wage and anti-Blacklist decisions and you have almost a reverse image of New Labour, which has preached tough love to all the groups whose votes it depends on, not least the unions.

It is tragically ironic that Tower Hamlets Labour should now be trying to call upon what it assumes to be the reflexive racism of the white working class to defeat Tower Hamlets First. Lutfur Rahman’s measures have been specifically tailored to helping working people, white or otherwise –  the people abandoned, indeed almost persecuted by New Labour, and the Coalition.

On a larger scale, Lutfur’s mayoralty has been a demonstrative rebuttal of New Labour’s neoconservative prejuduce increasingly steeped in an Islamophobic bigotry. For those who continue to govern (or, least, aspire to) as New Labour, a modernising Muslim Mayor who supports women being active in public life, promotes LGBT rights and supports working class and union rights is beyond their comprehension. They run round like headless chickens, certain he’s got it wrong – and trying to re-write his script for him. Bloody non-conformist. You can’t even rely on an extremist Islamicist to conform to his stereotype these days. Tsk.

We have seen over the last few months just how virulent that racist subtext can be with Conservatives, Labour and Panorama subscribing to all-out attacks on Lutfur Rahman. Like all the previous attacks, the latest one was dismissed by the police, for a complete lack of any evidence of wrongdoing. We saw the political manoeuvring that led to an audit whose conclusion will not come out until after the election, leaving Rahman unable to vindicate himself before the people go to the polls (or, indeed, the postbox).

Some voters will be tempted to “punish” Labour for its abandonment of traditional values and vote for parties like UKIP which includes people whose has been uneasily accommodated within the Labour Party. There could be a temptation to vote for the Greens, who certainly have a radical stance on many issues. But in Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets First present an alternative that combines traditional Labour values, a green sensibility for the environment and a liberal tradition on citizens’ rights.

Next Thursday, on 22nd May, Tower Hamlets voters have a rare opportunity to send a clear signal to the national politicians who have deserted us and to the local politicians whose ambition and opportunism has had them opposing the progressive policies of Mayor Rahman. Make your voices heard: vote for Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets First!