Aspire (political party)

Not to be confused with Aspire (Energy), Acer Aspire, or Aspire Academy.
Aspire
LeaderLutfur Rahman
TreasurerJahed Choudhury
Nominating OfficerLilian Collins
Founded26 January 2018
Preceded byTower Hamlets First
Headquarters28 Castlemain Street
Whitechapel
London
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing[4]
Tower Hamlets Council
21 / 45

Aspire is a local political party in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England, formed by Lutfur Rahman and councillors elected as members of his Tower Hamlets First party. After Tower Hamlets First was removed from the register of political parties following voting fraud and malpractice, its councillors formed the Tower Hamlets Independent Group (THIG).[5][6] After some defections, the remaining Tower Hamlets Independent Group councillors registered formally as a political party in 2018.[7] Most of its elected members were former Labour Party members, with a few exceptions.

It was the largest political opposition on Tower Hamlets Council before the 2018 May elections and then gained majority control of the council in the 2022 election, winning 24 of the council's 45 seats. Rahman was also re-elected mayor in those elections.

  1. ^ Hill, Dave (17 May 2022). "Tower Hamlets: Like it or not, Lutfur Rahman is a popular politician. But what kind of Mayor will he be this time?". On London. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. ^ Rucker, Sam (15 December 2022). "Councillor condemns Luftur Rahman for 'populist agenda'". East London Lines. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. ^ Bond, David (13 May 2022). "The shock return of Tower Hamlets' divisive mayor". Evening Standard.
  4. ^ Rahman, Lutfur (9 May 2022). "I'm a Socialist, and I Just Beat the Labour Party in London's Poorest Borough". Jacobin. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ Brooke, Mike (23 November 2017). "Tower Hamlets councillors storm out over vote to cooperate with police probing corrupt Lutfur Rahman election". East London Advertiser. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021.
  6. ^ Baynes, Mark (24 January 2017). "Exclusive: Lutfur Rahman making political comeback with new party". Love Wapping. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Brooke, Mike (28 February 2018). "Labour facing 2nd Tower Hamlets opposition group now recognised by Electoral Commission as 'Aspire' party". The Docklands & East London Advertiser. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2024.