The Big Count gets under way when the polls close at 10pm tonight for the election of the highly contested Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

Labour’s John Biggs is running for a second term after following independent mayor Lutfur Rahman’s ban from office in 2015 over the corrupt election the year before.

But it’s no easy ride, facing challenges from six rivals for the office that controls an annual £1.2 billion budget.

Rabina Khan is snapping at Labour’s heels for her People’s Alliance of Tower Hamlets after losing to Biggs in 2015.

Ohid Ahmed, former deputy mayor in Rahman’s administration, is running for the Aspire party.

East London Advertiser: Polls close at 10pm... find out who is winning the race for mayor of Tower Hamlets. Picture: Kois Miah/LBTHPolls close at 10pm... find out who is winning the race for mayor of Tower Hamlets. Picture: Kois Miah/LBTH (Image: Kois Miah/LBTH)

The Lib Dems are fielding Elaine Bagshaw who also ran last time who launched her campaign in Brick Lane this time round with party leader Sir Vince Cable.

Conservatives, Greens and Trade Unionists Coalition are also in the race.

Big issues facing voters include cuts to school budgets, police cuts and knife crime with a wave of fatal stabbings in the past three years and social housing shortage as well as over-development at the other end of the market straining the mains and drains.

Follow the East London Advertiser’s live Twitter feed @eladvertiser coverage as the night progresses till the result expected about dawn.

East London Advertiser: Tellers at a previous election, counting the votes. Picture source: LBTHTellers at a previous election, counting the votes. Picture source: LBTH (Image: LBTH)

The full list of candidates in alphabetical order:

AHMED, Abul Monsur Ohid (Aspire)

ALI, Anwara (Conservative)

BAGSHAW, Elaine Shela (Liberal Democrat)

BIGGS, John Robert (Labour)

JEBB, Ciaran Alasdair (Green)

KHAN, Rabina (People’s Alliance)

PIERRE, Hugo Curtis (Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition)