Rotten borough

I HAve nothing but admiration for the four people who had the fortitude and will to expose the rotten borough of Tower Hamlets.

Not only did they risk having to pay huge legal fees, but they had no support from the main political parties, the police or electoral Commission.

They also faced the spectacle of Ken livingstone and George Galloway openly supporting those whose ethics were in question.

Those who indulged in these practices will, predictably, seek to play the race card. What rubbish! They have been found out and are unfit for office. There are many decent people in Tower Hamlets and I sincerely hope they will dismiss those who have served them so badly.

GERALD STONE, St Albans, Herts. THe most worrying aspect of the Tower Hamlets case is that there isn’t a straightforward complaints system for reporting suspected malpractice by elected civic officers.

It is alarming that four determined people in the borough had to put their financial security in jeopardy to expose vote-rigging, misdirecting of public funds and religious bigotry.

That the electoral Commission and scotland Yard hadn’t reacted to the many complaints beggars belief. It leaves us wondering what other complaints might have been made in other parts of the country.

There could be more corrupt officials, unchallenged and unexposed, in other town halls. Thank goodness for that brave foursome and Judge Richard Mawrey, QC, who speaks for the law and the people.

JOHN ATKINS, Greatstone, Kent.