Yes, the BBC have being putting some of that much talked-about licence fee towards a hatchet job on one of Britain's most prominent Asian politicians in the run-up to May's election. Broadcast as last night's Panorama, the best they could get on Rahman was that he ignored the advice of council officers, and doubled council funding for Bengali run charities. The BBC join the dots for us telling readers of their website that, "Almost two-thirds of those who turned out to vote [last election day] were from his own Bangladeshi community."
One anticipates hearing next year that David Cameron has been returned as MP for Whitney by members of his "own white British community".
Now, this should be a non-story. It is entirely correct that elected politicians be able to over-rule unelected officers. What does deserve comment is the glee with which some Labour figures have greeted the attack on Rahman.
Panorama shows why Tower Hamlets deserves a different kind of Mayor http://t.co/4HZ18HXEWz @johnbiggs4mayor
— Tower Hamlets Labour (@TH_Labour_Party) March 31, 2014
Two points here.
First, Rahman himself is correct. There is more than a hint of racism about Panorama's report. Labour should distance itself from the programme and refrain from using it if it doesn't want to be accused of putting short-term electoral gain ahead of basic anti-racist principle.
Second, the whole anomalous situation in Tower Hamlets is entirely the fault of the NEC, who removed the duly selected candidate in a fit of pop-Islamophobic frenzy.
Ken Livingstone stood as an independent and was subsequently readmitted to Labour, serving as a Labour mayor. The same approach should be adopted towards Rahman. The divisions in Tower Hamlets need healing, not deepening.
ETA: Dave Hill here is worth a read. As is Reuben Bard-Rosenberg here.
ETA: Dave Hill here is worth a read. As is Reuben Bard-Rosenberg here.
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