Voters were “clearly intimidated” by supporters of Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s party during May’s elections, a Labour candidate has told a High Court judge.
Tower Hamlets First (THF) campaigners stood in “large numbers” outside a polling station on election day, Danny Hassell told Judge Richard Mawrey today at the start of the second week of hearings.
Mr Hassell, a Labour candidate in Bromley South ward, said he had to escort one voter to a polling station entrance so he could feel safe enough to cast his ballot.
The hearings were launched by four residents who accuse Mayor Rahman of “electoral fraud” and call for judge Mawrey to declare his re-election void and order a re-run.
The Mayor denies any wrongdoing, saying there is “little if any” evidence against him.
His lawyers have described the group of four’s claims as “invention”, “exaggeration” and “in some cases downright deliberately false allegations”.
The hearings continue.
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