Parties hold talks before Tower Hamlets Mayor Rahman announces his Cabinet

POLITICAL parties are holding group meetings to determine their stance ahead of the first council meeting presided over by Tower Hamlets first directly elected mayor.

Independent mayor Lutfur Rahman who polled 23,283 votes is expected to name his Cabinet at the meeting on Wednesday.

Labour which is the main opposition party with 32 members on the council is holding a meeting at Westminster tonight to discuss its policy and whether to allow members to join Mr Rahman’s Cabinet if asked.

Mr Rahman stood as an Independent after he was suspended as the Labour party’s candidate last month and in Thursday’s election polled more than twice the votes which Labour won.

The Conservative group is also meeting tonight and its eight members will consider their policy.

The Liberal Democrat councillor Stephanie Eaton is also taking soundings from her party.