Betrayal!

In an astounding act of appeasement, our council leaders have humiliated Tower Hamlets by giving in to the racist English Defence League.

After the Guardian's investigation exposed the ugly true nature of the EDL, it was at first expected that they would be marching on the East London Mosque at the centre of the local Muslim population. But in a tactical switch, acting on a tip-off from the right wing anti-Muslim blog Harry's Place, they turned their attention on a conference organised by Muslim students at the Troxy, demanding that the event should be cancelled and promising to demonstrate outside only yards away from Cable Street.

A united response from all quarters of the community resolved to stand against the EDL. A peaceful counter march was put in place, with the blessings of the police. A clear message would be sent to the EDL: you have no voice and no place in Tower Hamlets!

Then in a disgraceful, shabby betrayal, the council leadership stabbed the community in the back. 'We're at our best when we're united' proclaims the headline in East End Life, but where was the unity when Helal Abbas and Joshua Peck broke ranks? They demanded that the Troxy cancel the event, and threatened to withdraw council cooperation if they refused.

The Troxy caved in, and the EDL rejoiced in their unexpected success: "We have achieved a great victory by putting pressure on Tower Hamlets council to force the cancellation of the controversial conference that was due to take place at the Troxy."

Those who try to refute the EDL's claim are flying in the face of the facts, not least because it has been revealed that the council and police were consulted by the conference organisers and received approval for their event before the EDL raised the spectre of protest. Not only that, the student organisers offered to withdraw controversial speakers from their programme, but they say this offer was spurned.

The shameless council leadership, obsessed with their own internal political wrangling at the expense of the good of the community, bring disgrace to the local Labour Party. Their appeasement of the racist EDL is a stain on Tower Hamlets' long record of opposing fascism. Let's hope none of these traitors stand for mayor.