A whistleblower who spearheaded a campaign to end corruption in Tower Hamlets is to stand for election as an MP in the borough.
Former TV producer Andy Erlam was among four campaigners who helped bring down the administration of Lutfur Rahman.
The independent mayor was found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices by an Election Court in 2015 and banned from office for five years.
Mr Erlam is now planning to run in Poplar and Limehouse in an upcoming general election for a new political group called “The Anti-Corruption Party”.
The current Labour MP, Jim Fitzpatrick, is set to stand down at the next election after 21 years as an MP.
Mr Erlam said: “The area is crying out for an elected representative prepared to fight independently for them. Having led the successful election petition, against the odds, I have proven my commitment to the people and to democracy and justice.”
Apsana Begum, an ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is running to be the party’s candidate in the east London seat.
She is backed by the Left-wing group Momentum and is a frontrunner to win the Labour selection after the party’s ruling body ordered the seat must have an all-women shortlist.
