Five members of Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s Independent cabinet have lost their appeals against expulsion from the Labour Party.

The councillors were expelled from the party in July of this year after supporting candidates standing against Labour in April’s Spitalfields by-election.

They lodged appeals against their expulsion, claiming at the time that it was a result of “racism and discrimination” within the Party.

However, a judgement by Labour’s appeals panel said there was “no reason to challenge the evidence that had led to the original decision”, meaning the expulsion was upheld.

The councillors involved are Kabir Ahmed, Rofique Ahmed, Shahed Ali, Abdul Asad, who Labour claims did not attend their appeal hearings last week.

Chris Weaver, who is chair of Tower Hamlets Labour Party, said: “Residents need to know that when they vote for a Labour councillor that’s what they will have for the whole four years of a council - not someone who will switch loyalties and views as it suits them.”

Tower Hamlets Labour group leader Joshua Peck added: “I hope that today’s ruling will send a crystal clear message that the Labour Party rules cannot just be ignored. You cannot campaign against the Party and expect to remain a member.”