The latest race row to break out among Tower Hamlets politicians fizzled out after the key “witness” came to the defence of the alleged offender.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s party, Tower Hamlets First, claimed it had a secret Labour memo from 1995 from then-council leader Cllr Michael Keith, accusing Labour mayoral candidate John Biggs of racism over “the production of an inflammatory election leaflet”.
Cllr Alibor Choudhury said: “John Biggs’s 20-year record of dubious racially-charged remarks is there for anyone to see.”
Mr Keith rejected the claim and defended Mr Biggs.
He said: “To dredge up out of context comments that were made almost 20 years ago to smear someone’s character scrapes the gutter.
“I’ve known John Biggs for decades and, while we have had our differences at times, there is no doubt in my mind that he works for the benefit of the whole community in Tower Hamlets.”
Cllr Choudhury was unable to provide the memo or leaflet.
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