Cabinet meeting: Lutfur Rahman rebuts Theresa May’s claim of extremism in Tower Hamlets

Lutfur Rahman opened tonight’s cabinet meeting by angrily rebutting Theresa May’s claim the borough’s schools are at risk of influence from extremism.

The Mayor of Tower Hamlets said the comments, which were made at the Tory Party conference today, were “inaccurate and ill-informed” and pledged to write to the Home Secretary’s office to “raise concerns.”

“To suggest through rumour-mongering that Tower Hamlets’ schools are at risk of influence from extreme views or behaviour is false and deeply irresponsible,” he told the council’s cabinet meeting at Tower Hamlets Town Hall.

“Placing Tower Hamlets’ school council in the context of a debate about extremism is inaccurate and ill-informed,” he added.

Referring to the so-called “Trojan Horse” plot of fundamentalists penetrating schools Mrs May said: “It is not just a problem in Birmingham.

“Following divisive community politics and allegations of the mismanagement of public funds in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Eric Pickles has sent inspectors to investigate Lutfur Rahman, the elected Mayor of the borough.”