A ‘gang of eight’ Labour councillors has broken ranks to support independent Luftur Rahman in his mayoral election bid.

A ‘gang of eight’ Labour councillors has broken ranks to support independent Luftur Rahman in his mayoral election bid.

The Advertiser understands the renegade group will be voting for Rahman - who was dramatically dropped from the Labour party earlier this month - in the upcoming election on October 21.

One of the councillors, Oliur Rahman, admitted he will be campaigning on behalf of Luftur Rahman. He said: “Luftur Rahman went through the democratic process and was elected by Labour members. So we must respect and honour the decision the members have taken.

“If Abbas (the current Labour candidate in the mayoral election) was selected by the Labour party members then I would support Abbas. But unfortunately he wasn’t.”

Cllr Oliur Rahman added that seven other Labour councillors also planned to support Luftur Rahman in his campaign.

Luftur Rahman was dropped from the Labour party nomination earlier this month following allegations over his election expenses and membership irregularities.

The allegations emerged just two weeks after he won the Labour nomination for Tower Hamlets executive mayor.