Lutfur Rahman: Aspire party takes control of Tower Hamlets

Lutfur Rahman's Aspire party has taken control of Tower Hamlets

The Aspire party, which was set up by previously-banned mayor Lutfur Rahman, has taken control of Tower Hamlets in London from Labour.

It follows Mr Rahman's re-election as the borough's mayor, seven years after he was removed from office.

Aspire had two seats on the east London council going into the election on 5 May but won 24 of the 45 seats.

Labour has won at least 18 seats but had previously held 40. Two council wards have yet to be declared.

The Conservatives and the Greens are the only other parties elected to the council each winning one seat, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Labour had been in control of the council since 2015 when Mr Rahman was found guilty of electoral misconduct.

He was removed from office for corrupt and illegal practices and was banned from standing for office for five years.

• Labour wins three Conservative councils in London

• Loss of totemic London councils hits Johnson hard

• Croydon bucks London trend with Tory mayoral win

Following his re-election, Mr Rahman told the BBC he was very pleased voters had given him "another chance to serve them" and "deliver my progressive agenda which I started in 2010".

John Biggs (second from right) replaced Mr Rahman as mayor in 2015 and was then replaced himself by Mr Rahman on 5 May

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]