There was a story in the Daily Mail last week titled, ‘Muslim council chiefs ban ALL members from ‘tea and sandwiches’ in meetings which take place during Ramadan‘ I thought - nah, this can’t be right. They can’t be that stupid. So I made some enquiries, and was forwarded the original correspondence sent around. So, here is the original email that sparked off the controversy: Dear Councillor, I write to inform you of the arrangements that have been agreed with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council in respect of the Council’s formal committees and other meetings where Member attendance is required during Ramadan. Due to forward planning for Ramadan in developing the 2008 calendar of dates of principal meetings of the Authority, there are...

Te Christian Institute says, on Friday, 29 August 2008'Councillors in Tower Hamlets, East London, have been told not to eat in town hall meetings during the Muslim month of Ramadan. But the same council has renamed a staff Christmas party as a ‘festive meal’ and banned Guy Fawkes at bonfire night.All elected councillors have been sent an email asking them to support Ramadam by not eating during daylight hours.Special arrangements have also been made to disrupt council meetings to allow for Muslim prayer.The move has led to accusations that the Labour-run council is favouring one religion over others.Councillor Stephanie Eaton, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “I was rather disconcerted to see that the arrangements put in place for Ramadan, which we support for Muslim...

The East London Advertiser reports a heart-warming story of love across the political barricades:Cllr Stephanie Eaton, leader of the Lib Dem group on Tower Hamlets council, is to marry David Edgar, former senior Labour councillor and now chair of the Tower Hamlets Labour party.It comes after a whirlwind romance that both have managed to keep hidden from the East End political rumour mill.A complication, says the newspaper, is that Stephanie Eaton is likely to stand in Bethnal Green & Bow at the next general election.It would never have been allowed in Eric Flounders's...

this is what the East London Advertiser has to say about Tower Hamlets inviting Hizb ut-Tahrir to speak at an event. Once they realised they withdrew council support for the event - David T at Harry's Place takes up the story:A Town Hall statement on Thursday said: "The Cordoba Foundation has informed the council that it now feels it is unable to agree to the request to withdraw the invitation to one of the panel members. "This decision unfortunately means the council feels it is no longer able to support this event."The foundation had been asked to remove "as far as possible" all reference to the council and Tower Hamlets logos.But Tory Opposition councillor Tim Archer said it was 'not good enough' and has written to the council chief executive. "I acknowledge the council has now...