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An ex-adviser to Tower Hamlets' controversial mayor has warned the "civil war" of the borough's bitter politics "will spill out onto the streets" if election results are not accepted.

Kazim Zaidi called people to accept Lutfur Rahman's win over Labour's candidate in the race to be directly-elected mayor.

Tower Hamlets' full results were only announced on Tuesday night, five days after polling stations closed.

The counting process - which was marred by allegations of "arguments, threats and chaos" - is now the subject of an investigation by watchdog the Electoral Commission.

Mr Rahman split with Labour in 2010 before standing as an independent and winning election. But Labour's majority in the council led to bitter rows - and even physical tussles - between the groups throughout his first term.

Mr Zaidi, who was employed at the taxpayers' expense as an adviser to Mr Rahman until March, has issued a warning to those complaining about the way in which last week's elections were conducted.

"The last six years in Tower Hamlets has been nothing more than a civil war that got out of hand; it spilled out of the Labour Group room and into the Council chamber," he wrote on the Trial by Jeory blog.

In a warning shot to Mr Rahman's detractors, he added: "If those who still seem unable to accept the result continue as they are, it will spill out onto the streets where even the cleverest machine politicians will not be able to manage it."

Labour and Mr Rahman's party, Tower Hamlets First, are now battling to secure a majority in the council chamber, with a crucial by-election still to be held after a candidate's sudden death.

Mr Rahman is understood to be keen to tempt councillors into joining him, with Labour sources claiming it is a "racing certainty" that some will defect.

After the polls were overshadowed by unprecedented delays in the count and claims of malpractice, the Electoral Commission has confirmed it plans to invetsigate.

A spokesman said: "Clearly there have been issues at the Tower Hamlets count and we need to make sure we understand what happened, and the reasons for it, before reaching any conclusions.

“As part of our review we will be talking to the Returning Officer and Regional Returning Officer. We will be looking closely at what happened during the count, as well as the planning that took place beforehand.

“Once we have concluded the review we will publish its findings in our report on the elections."

Mr Zaidi later said: "The article I wrote was not an incitement to violence, it was not a veiled threat of violence, it was not even a prediction of violence.

"I merely expressed the concern that matters that should have remained as an internal Labour Party dispute have spread much further and are affecting the running of the council and the reputation of the borough. It is telling that what is a clear attempt at conciliation has been painted as the opposite by local politicians and the media."

A spokesman for Tower Hamlets' Labour group said: "At a time of some local tension what we do not need is people resorting to this kind of run-away rhetoric which only exacerbates divisions.



“The people of Tower Hamlets have made their choices and it is now for politicians of all sides to find a way to make that work."