The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, has been named as one of the most influential people on the left in the UK.

Mr Rahman was ranked at number 68 in a list of the top 100 people on the left compiled by political commentators Iain Dale and Brian Brivati for the Telegraph.

Placing him 10 places higher than last year, the duo commented: “A very active community leader, Rahman became the first directly elected mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

“Viewed as a successful Mayor who is making great changes in the area, many in the Labour Party have called for him to be readmitted back into the party. But he regarded with huge suspicion by the leadership.”

Mr Rahman was rated as more influential than several key figures in the Labour party, including John Prescott, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.