In a move that reeks of damage control, Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman has dramatically cancelled a set of controversial care contracts worth nearly £190 million after a storm of public backlash. This reversal, however, does little to clear his administration of the cloud of impropriety and mismanagement that has clung to this entire episode. Rahman’s latest debacle, hauntingly reminiscent of his past scandals, is now facing the imminent scrutiny of a long-awaited “Best Value” investigation report, which is expected to expose further details – and potentially uncover deeper layers of misconduct – within his administration.
This scandal unfolded in a manner that echoes Rahman’s well-worn political playbook. He and his team steamrolled the care contract through without proper oversight or transparency, citing an “urgent” need that conveniently circumvented scrutiny from opposition councillors. With sensitive financial details kept behind closed doors and certain awardees lacking even basic Care Quality Commission (CQC) accreditation, the hurried process raised immediate red flags. But it took intense public and political pressure to force Rahman’s administration to reverse course, abruptly cancelling the contracts in what seems less a commitment to accountability and more a desperate attempt to avoid another scandal.
The timing of the forthcoming “Best Value” report only intensifies the pressure. This investigation, expected to be released imminently, is set to assess whether the council has fulfilled its legal duty to secure best value in its operations – a responsibility that Rahman’s rushed, opaque approach to the care contracts clearly evaded. Given his history of “corrupt and illegal practices,” which led to his previous removal from office, the public should be prepared for the possibility that this report may reveal further evidence of Rahman’s disregard for lawful and ethical standards. Up to his old tricks of wasting council taxpayers money, he has sought advice on how to take legal action against the investigators. In a textbook ploy to play the victim.
The impending findings couldn’t come at a worse time for the embattled mayor. Rahman’s reckless handling of the care contract not only betrayed the trust of the borough’s most vulnerable residents but hints at a wider pattern of governance where private interests take precedence over public duty. And with the Best Value report set to shine a spotlight on his administration’s adherence to principles of efficiency, transparency, and accountability, it’s hard to see how its findings could paint Rahman’s leadership in any favourable light.
In particular, one of the contracts apparently withdrawn is said to have links to Mohammed Aktaruzzaman of Paradise Care Services Limited who is allegedly a known associate of Councillor Shafi Ahmed. Not to be mistaken with another Mohammed Aktaruzzaman, who was embroiled in Lutfur’s electoral fraud case, who now runs restaurants and hotels outside of the borough.
The residents of Tower Hamlets deserve leaders who are committed to ethical governance, transparency, and genuine public service. Rahman’s hasty U-turn on these contracts, coupled with the anticipated findings of the Best Value report, only reinforces the perception that this administration operates in the shadows and shirks accountability whenever it suits. We have seen what happens when Best Value reports are damning. They can abolish council’s entirely, as was the case with Northampton County Council. The people of Tower Hamlets should demand answers – and, more importantly, demand better leadership if they seek to avoid such terrible outcomes.
