Another election in Tower Hamlets: by-election called in Spitalfields and Banglatown

A by-election has been called for 16 December in Spitalfields and Banglatown ward, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The seat became vacant after the election last month of Lutfur Rahman as the borough's first Mayor. He had been one of the ward's three Labour councillors, until his removal from the party by its National Executive Committee in the run-up to the mayoral election.

Rahman went on to stand as an Independent, beating the Labour candidate by more than 11,000 votes.

Dave Hill reports on his London Blog that there is already infighting within the local Labour party over their choice of candidate: some are urging for the replacement of Abdul Alim, who they say was "imposed" and "has very little connection or knowledge of local politics in this ward let alone the ability to win in this complex ward without their support."

Meanwhile, look out for the announcement of a very promising Liberal Democrat candidate...