As Lutfur Rahman is found guilty of a string of election offences, here is a piece the Guardian published on him last year:

Apparently “there had been a concerted effort by the media and political establishment to smear Rahman” and “the story of Lutfur Rahman is a democratic success story”. Today he has been found guilty of bribery and corruption.

Dave Hill also wrote a long defence of Rahman in the Guardian, including how Rahman was victim to “pernicious, glory-seekers’ back catalogue of Tower Hamlets Islamist conspiracy theories”. He concluded:

“the point is, though, that if Rahman has sinned how many others are doing so all day, every day in ways that, in the end, differ if at all only in the means and detail?”

That renowned democrat George Galloway defended his ideological ally:

“Labour should be beating a path to mayor Lutfur’s door and asking him to sprinkle some of his stardust over them instead of expelling him, witch-hunting him and trying to drive him from office.”

While Ken Livingstone spoke up for his old friend:

“He is the subject of an Islamophobic campaign of lies. I have always stood up for people who are victimised.”

Another one of those days when Labour have to say “thank goodness David didn’t win”…