Counting is underway to find out who will represent the views of young people across the borough in the Tower Hamlets Young Mayor election, which happens every two years.

Ballot boxes were placed in schools around Tower Hamlets to encourage pupils aged 11-17 to place their votes and voting also took place in youth centres.

The winner will be announced at an inauguration ceremony this evening.Tower Hamlets Chief Executive and Returning Officer, Will Tuckley, is overseeing the running of the election.

The newly-elected Young Mayor will have considerable responsibility in representing young people and the borough regionally, nationally, and in parliament. They will work closely with the Tower Hamlets Executive Mayor, Tower Hamlets Youth Council, and other key stakeholders to make sure young people living in the borough are at the forefront of political discussion and discourse.

The elected Young Mayor will hold the post for two years, with a small team of deputies.

The actual Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, said: “The young people of Tower Hamlets play a hugely important role in defining the vibrant nature of the borough, so it’s really important that we have a champion who represents and speaks out on behalf of those young people.”

The ten finalists are:
· Hodan Ahmed
· Sadia Ahmed
· Md Mazhar Alam
· Christiana Chinedu-Eke
· Jorian Gavalda
· Fahimul Islam
· Shaiam Islam
· Zaynah Khan
· Aaliyah Liburd
· Foosim Van

To read the candidate’s full manifestos and watch each of finalists’ video pledges, visit the Young mayor page.

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