Councillor Musthak Ahmed has been elected as the new Speaker for Tower Hamlets Council, vowing to uphold values of humility, fairness, patience, and respect.
The annual meeting of the council on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, saw Ahmed elected to the position of Speaker for the 2026-27 municipal year. He was proposed by Councillor Mayim Talukdar, who holds the significant role of Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, and seconded by Councillor Kabir Ahmed. The election process, which saw no other nominations, is a key part of establishing the council's governance for the year ahead.
In his acceptance speech, Councillor Ahmed highlighted the strength of Tower Hamlets' diversity, describing it as a great example of modern Britain.
He emphasized that the council's resilience stems from its people, from every background, faith, language, and culture living side by side.
He pledged leadership grounded in humility, accountability, and service, stating that resilience deserves leadership worthy of it.
A core theme was his commitment to serving the people of Tower Hamlets, asserting that whatever political differences exist, all are united by the shared responsibility and common goal of serving the people of Tower Hamlets.
He stressed a need for the council to focus less on themselves and more on the people whose lives are affected by the decisions made.
As Speaker, Councillor Ahmed outlined his commitment to upholding the dignity of the Chamber, protecting fair and respectful debate, and serving all members and residents with impartiality, integrity, and respect. He also acknowledged the shaken public trust in politics across the country
and stated a duty to demonstrate that public life can still be guided by decency, seriousness, and respect for others.
The specific responsibilities of the Speaker include upholding and promoting the purposes of the Council's Constitution, presiding over meetings to ensure efficient business and the rights of councillors, and ensuring the council serves as a forum for debate and holds the Mayor and Cabinet to account. The Speaker also promotes public involvement in the council's activities and acts as the conscience of the Council.
The role requires the Speaker to attend civic and ceremonial functions as determined appropriate. Crucially, the Speaker may not be a member of the Executive.
Councillor Iqbal Hossain was subsequently elected as Deputy Speaker, proposed by Councillor Talukdar and seconded by Councillor Kubra Rahman. The Deputy Speaker will deputise for the Speaker when they are unavailable.
The 2026-27 municipal year marks the start of a new administrative period for Tower Hamlets Council. Key decisions for this year include the approval of the Members' Allowances Scheme for 2026-27, which includes an increase in allowances after being frozen for four years, and the adoption of the Council's Constitution for the upcoming year. The council also agreed to a review of proportionality and the allocation of seats on committees, and approved the calendar of meetings for 2026-27. The Mayor's Executive Scheme of Delegation for 2026-27 was also noted. See the public reports pack for 20th May 2026 for further details on these arrangements.
The agenda frontsheet for the meeting provides an overview of the proceedings.
