Former mayor Lutfur Rahman wins right to launch limited appeal

Judges have decided that Lutfur Rahman - who was the directly-elected mayor of Tower Hamlets - can challenge one aspect of a ruling by Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey.

Mr Rahman had been convicted of wrongdoing by Mr Mawrey in April 2015 after an Election Court trial in London.

Four voters - led by writer and film-maker Andy Erlam - had taken legal action against him under the provisions of the Representation Of The People Act.

Mr Rahman wants Mr Mawrey's ruling to be subjected to a judicial review in the High Court.

He had asked two judges to give him permission to launch a review.

Two judges analysed Mr Rahman's application for permission to launch a judicial review at a High Court hearing in London on Tuesday.

Lord Justice Lloyd and Mr Justice Supperstone said Mr Rahman could mount a challenge on an aspect of Mr Mawrey's ruling relating to the use of "spiritual influence" on voters.

Mr Mawrey had decided that local religious leaders had been persuaded to use influence to garner votes for Mr Rahman.

The two judges concluded that Mr Rahman had a chance of overturning that aspect of the ruling.

Mr Rahman had also wanted to challenge conclusions Mr Mawrey reached relating to bribery.

Mr Mawrey concluded that Mr Rahman - or his agents - had paid canvassers and that council money had been used to pay a local journalist to support him.

Lord Justice Lloyd and Mr Justice Supperstone refused to allow Mr Rahman to challenge those aspects of Mr Mawrey's ruling.

They said he had no arguable case and no hope of winning.

Mr Rahman refused to comment after the hearing on Tuesday.

He would not say whether the judges' decision amounted to a win or a defeat for him.

But one of the four voters who instigated the original legal action said Mr Rahman had lost.

"He's lost," said businessman Azmal Hussain.

"The big point was the corruption and bribery.

"He didn't win on that.

"We've won again."