Lutfur Rahman has been returned as the Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets following the official election count held at ExCel London. Representing the Aspire Party, Rahman secured the mayoralty with 35,679 votes, navigating a field of nine candidates to lead the East London borough for the upcoming term.
The election, which took place on Thursday, saw a total turnout of 42.1 per cent from an electorate of 219,030 residents. This participation rate reflects a significant engagement from the local community in determining the leadership of the council’s executive functions. The verification and counting process concluded on Friday, May 8, with the Returning Officer confirming the local election results for all participating parties and independent candidates.
Final results from the ExCel London mayoral count
The mayoral race involved a broad spectrum of political representation, ranging from major national parties to local independent voices. The final vote distribution highlights the competitive nature of the 2026 contest in Tower Hamlets. Following Lutfur Rahman’s 35,679 votes, the closest challengers were Sirajul Islam of the Labour Party and Hirra Khan Adeogun of the Green Party, who were separated by only a small margin.
The complete list of results for the Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets is as follows:
- Lutfur Rahman (Aspire): 35,679
- Sirajul Islam (Labour Party): 19,454
- Hirra Khan Adeogun (Green Party): 19,223
- John Gerald Bullard (Reform UK): 7,153
- Dominic Aidan Nolan (Conservative): 3,818
- Zami Ali (Tower Hamlets Independents): 3,156
- Mohammed Abdul Hannan (Liberal Democrats): 2,421
- Hugo Pierre (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition): 638
- Terence McGrenera (Independent): 524
These figures confirm that the Aspire Party candidate achieved a clear mandate, finishing more than 16,000 votes ahead of the nearest rival. The count at ExCel London was monitored by observers and party agents to ensure the transparency and accuracy of the democratic result.
Voter turnout and democratic administration in the borough
Stephen Halsey, the Returning Officer for Tower Hamlets, oversaw the proceedings and commended the logistical effort required to manage a borough-wide election. The operation involved approximately 800 staff members working across polling stations and the central count facility. This team worked in coordination with the Metropolitan Police and the Electoral Commission to maintain the integrity of the ballot.
Halsey noted that the borough maintains some of the most robust election processes in the country. The collaboration between local government staff and external partners was designed to support residents in exercising their democratic rights without interference or technical disruption. The 42.1 per cent turnout indicates that despite broader national trends, local issues remain a primary driver for the Tower Hamlets electorate.
The scale of the operation at ExCel London allowed for a centralized verification process, which is essential for a borough with over 200,000 eligible voters. The successful conclusion of the mayoral count marks the first phase of the local election cycle for 2026, establishing the executive leadership before the legislative body of the council is finalized.
Schedule for upcoming ward councillor announcements
While the executive leadership has been decided, the administrative structure of Tower Hamlets Council will not be fully formed until the conclusion of the ward councillor counts. On Saturday, May 9, officials will return to ExCel London to begin the count for 45 councillor positions. These representatives will serve the 20 distinct borough wards that make up the Tower Hamlets jurisdiction.
The ward count is scheduled to commence at 8:30 am. Results for each individual ward will be released periodically throughout the day as they are verified. These results determine the political composition of the council and will influence how the Executive Mayor’s policies are debated and implemented over the next four years.
Residents can monitor the progress of the ward elections through the council’s official digital channels. The outcome of these counts will decide whether the Aspire Party will hold a majority within the council chambers or if the Executive Mayor will need to work with a diverse assembly of opposition councillors from the Labour, Green, and Conservative parties.
Source: Tower Hamlets Council
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