THE Liberal Democrats have picked a former councillor to fight the mayoral election in Tower Hamlets.

John Griffiths beat the other candidate Ajmal Masroor by a whisker in the vote by local party members this week.

Consultant Mr Griffiths represented the Bethnal Green ward on the council from 2002-06.

The vote was so close the result was delayed for a recount.

Mr Masroor contested the Bethnal Green and Bow parliamentary seat in the General Election in May and won second place to Labour.

He won 10,210 votes or 20 per cent. The party had come third in the 2005 General Election.

The Lib Dems now have just one councillor, Stephanie Eaton, and will be campaigning hard before the mayoral election on October 21.

The Conservatives have picked barrister Neil King as their candidate and the other parties have yet to finalise their choices.

The Labour party has been be-set by difficulties as former council leader Lutfur Rahman challenged a shortlist which left him off and is now one of the candidates vying for the party’s selection.

Respect has also yet to make its decision.