"Fear and Hate" Festival Ignites Political Firestorm in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets Council is launching a new festival to celebrate the borough's diversity and combat what Mayor Lutfur Rahman calls "fear and hate" from the far-right. The move follows recent comments by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe and tech billionaire Elon Musk regarding bilingual signs in the borough, and a 'Unite the Kingdom' rally led by Tommy Robinson. However, critics suggest the event, coming a year before the next election, is a political maneuver by Mayor Rahman.

The festival will feature food, music, and art, and will coincide with the re-launch of the Brick Lane Curry Festival after a nine-year hiatus. The council is also unveiling two plaques, in English and Bengali, to mark the renovation of the former Royal London Hospital building, which now serves as the borough's headquarters. The building was purchased by the council in 2013 and has been its headquarters since then.

Mayor Rahman stated that the recent far-right activity is "deeply disturbing" and reminiscent of the racism he experienced while growing up. The council spokesman emphasized Tower Hamlets' "proud history of standing up to racism," referencing the Battle of Cable Street and preventing a march by the English Defence League (EDL).

Demographic and Socio-Political Context

Tower Hamlets has the largest British-Bengali population in the UK. According to the 2021 census, 34.6% of the borough's population identifies as Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi, which is the highest proportion of any single ethnic minority group in a London borough. The next largest group is the White British population, at 22.9%. Other significant groups include White Other at 14.6%, Asian Other, Black African, and White and Asian. The borough is also one of the most densely populated and fastest-growing local authorities in England, with a population that grew by 22.1% between 2011 and 2021.

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The political landscape in Tower Hamlets is complex. Mayor Lutfur Rahman, of the Aspire party, was first elected in 2010 but was removed from office in 2015 after being found guilty of electoral fraud and was barred from seeking re-election for five years. He successfully ran again in 2022. The upcoming election in 2026 places his administration under scrutiny, with critics, particularly from the Labour Party, accusing him of using public funds for politically motivated events.

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The use of bilingual signs in areas with large immigrant populations is a recurring point of contention. Opponents argue that English should be the sole language on public signs, while supporters maintain that bilingual signs are a sign of inclusivity and help to navigate new environments for non-native speakers. The London Underground has used Bengali alongside English in certain stations since the 1970s.