Candidates get ready for Tower Hamlets’ Weavers ward by-election

The man who led the campaign to save one of the busiest One Stop shops in London’s East End is now running for a seat on Tower Hamlets Council.

The National Housing Federation’s John Pierce was selected on Sunday by Labour to run in the Weavers ward by-election at Bethnal Green on May 3.

He organised a rally in February and mass petition which persuaded Tower Hamlets council not to close the Rushmead centre.

Lib Dem, Respect and Conservatives are also fighting for the seat vacated by Labour councillor and nurse Anna Lynch who resigned last month.

Former cllr Azizur Rahmankhan who lost his Bethnal Green North seat in 2010 is running for Lib Dems, while Conservatives selected barrister Caroline Kerswell on Friday. Abjul Miah, who lost to Labour in the 2010 Bethnal Green & Bow Parliamentary election, has started campaigning for Respect.

The nomination list closes today (Weds) at noon.