Lutfur Rahman: damaging new evidence as auditors close in

The Old Poplar Town Hall, a 10,000 square foot building a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf and a new Crossrail station, was valued by council officers at £1.5 million and may now be worth up to £3.5 million after receiving planning permission for a 25-bedroom hotel. However it was handed over to Dreamstar, an unregistered company controlled by the owner of Mr Rahman’s election campaign website, for just £875,000. The deal is a key part of a government investigation into Tower Hamlets ordered by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles. [The Telegraph] Read more