Labour candidate Anam Islam has been voted in as Forest Gate North’s third councillor after winning yesterday’s by-election.
He secured 52.5 per cent of the votes, 1,150, beating the second-placed Green Party candidate Elisabeth Whitebread, 31.1pc, by 469 votes.
Triggered by the resignation of former councillor Ellie Robinson, now working as a senior advisor for London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the turnout was 21.35pc, with 2,197 voters taking to the polls.
Speaking last night, Cllr Islam said: “Thank you everyone, it is very humbling to be standing in front of you as the elected councillor for Forest Gate North.
“I want to thank every single person who voted for me and I want to give you my assurance that I will do everything in my power not to let you down.
“I am overwhelmed by the support I have received during this election campaign and I would like to thank all my colleagues, comrades, friends and family who gave their time to campaign for me.”
He also made a special mention of party activist Ashikur Rahman, a member of his campaign team, who was assaulted in an alleged racist attack outside the Labour office in Stratford’s High Street on Sunday.
“I applaud his resilience for coming our immediately to support this campaign,” added Cllr Islam.
The Conservative party’s John Oxley recorded 301 votes, 13.8pc with the Liberal Democrat candidate James Rumsby, who reportedly dropped out of the running for family reasons last month, fourth with 57 votes, 2.6pc.
Cllr Islam’s election means he joins fellow Labour councillors Seyi Akiwowo and Rachel Tripp in representing the ward.
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