# Tower Hamlets London Borough Council elections

Tower Hamlets London Borough Council, the local authority for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is elected every four years.

## Political control

| Election | Overall control | Conservative | Labour | Lib Dem | Communist | Respect | Aspire | Green | Others |
| 1964 | Labour | - | 55 | - | 3 | - | - | - | 2 |
| 1968 | Labour | - | 57 | - | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1971 | Labour | - | 60 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1974 | Labour | - | 60 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1978 | Labour | - | 43 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1982 | Labour | - | 31 | 18 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| 1986 | Alliance | - | 24 | 26 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1990 | Liberal Democrats | - | 20 | 30 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | Labour | - | 43 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 | Labour | - | 41 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | Labour | - | 35 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | Labour | 7 | 26 | 6 | - | 12 | - | - | - |
| 2010 | Labour | 8 | 41 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| 2014 | No overall control | 5 | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 18$^χ$ |
| 2018 | Labour | 2 | 42 | - | - | - | - | - | 1$^α$ |
| 2022 | Aspire | 1 | 19 | - | - | - | 24 | 1 | - |
Key:
* $^α$People's Alliance of Tower Hamlets
* $^χ$Tower Hamlets First

## Council elections

The first elections to Tower Hamlets council were in 1964, in readiness for the Council coming into being in 1965. The first two elections were held every three years, and since 1974 elections have been held every four years.
From 1964 to 1978, the Council had 60 members, and ward boundaries remained constant, with none of the wards crossing the old Metropolitan Borough boundaries. The number of Councillors was reduced to 50 for the 1978 elections, and ward boundaries were changed; these borders remained in use until 2002. The ward boundaries changed for the 2002 elections, with all wards receiving 3 member seats, increasing the numbers of Councillors to 51.
* 1964 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1968 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1971 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1974 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1978 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election (boundary changes increased the number of seats by ten)
* 1982 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1986 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1990 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 1994 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election (boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1998 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 2002 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election (boundary changes increased the number of seats by one)
* 2006 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 2010 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 2014 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election (boundary changes reduced the number of seats by six)
* 2018 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election
* 2022 Tower Hamlets London Borough Council election

## Mayoral elections

* 2010 Tower Hamlets mayoral election

## Borough result maps

* 2002 results map
* 2006 results map
* 2010 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2018 results map
* 2022 results map

## By-election results
### 1964-1968

St Mary's by-election, 13 August 1964 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Communist | Barney Borman | 709 | |
| | Labour | J. Duggan | 297 | |
| | Liberal | M. Dove | 217 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 412 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,664 | 21.6 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing | |
Poplar Millwall by-election, 19 November 1965 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ted Johns | 662 | |
| | Tenants Association | L.A. Jordan | 535 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,505 | 21.8 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | |
* The gain was from the Residents' Association.

### 1968-1971

St Mary's by-election, 26 June 1969 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. W. Ashkettle | 533 | |
| | Communist | D. Lyons | 454 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 79 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 17.1 |
| | Labour gain from Communist | Labour gain from Communist | Swing | |
Bethnal Green West by-election, 24 September 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | C. H. Main | 633 | |
| | Liberal | C. Suett | 82 | |
| | Conservative | J. R. M. Baker | 56 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 551 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 13.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Holy Trinity by-election, 24 September 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | I. P. McDougall | 667 | |
| | Communist | D. Lyons | 127 | |
| | Conservative | A. Heller | 64 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 540 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 11.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Poplar East by-election, 24 September 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | P. Beasley | 1,223 | |
| | Conservative | R. W. Hartley | 69 | |
| | Union Movement | S. S. Bailey | 33 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,154 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 19.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### 1971-1974

There were no by-elections.

### 1974-1978

Limehouse by-election, 20 March 1975 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John C. O'Neill | 776 | |
| | Liberal | Maurice Caplan | 289 | |
| | National Front | Frank C. Berry | 161 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 487 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,101 | 17.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Poplar South by-election, 31 March 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Arthur Sanders | 551 | |
| | Conservative | Selwyn P. Williams | 227 | |
| | National Front | Frank C. Berry | 173 | |
| | Independent Labour | Victor J. Clark | 43 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 324 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,333 | 23.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Spitalfields by-election, 20 October 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Geoffrey G. N. White | 816 | |
| | Socialist Unity | Hilda K. Kean | 242 | |
| | Conservative | Edna Hill | 133 | |
| | National Front | Beverley J. Matthews | 70 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 574 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,573 | 22.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### 1978-1982

Bow by-election, 6 March 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Felicity A. Coakley | 936 | |
| | Labour | Albert J. Snooks | 697 | |
| | Conservative | John S. Livingstone | 46 | |
| | National Front | Victor J. Clark | 43 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,350 | 32.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Peter Gray.
Blackwall by-election, 9 July 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John J. Boles | 512 | |
| | Conservative | Simon P. McCall | 105 | |
| | Independent Labour | Peter Read | 54 | |
| | National Front | Susan I. Clapp | 19 | |
| | Nationalist Party | George A. Williams | 12 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,260 | 16.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Arthur Sanders.
Weavers by-election, 9 July 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Bishop | 574 | |
| | National Front | Victor J. Clark | 95 | |
| | Conservative | Linda M. Archibald | 87 | |
| | Nationalist Party | Sheila Payne | 37 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,994 | 11.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Arthur M. Praag.

### 1982-1986

Grove by-election, 7 July 1983 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Janet I. Ludlow | 1,105 | |
| | Labour | Belle Harris | 414 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 691 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,771 | 40.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Edward Lewis.
Bromley by-election, 1 March 1984 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Beryl Day | 1,461 | |
| | Labour | Neil J. McAree | 1,446 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,892 | 42.3 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Patrick A. Desmond.
St Peter's by-election, 19 July 1984 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Josie Curran | 1,324 | |
| | Labour | Albert C. Jacob | 779 | |
| | National Front | Raymond J. Bradford | 97 | |
| | Conservative | Robert J. Ingram | 73 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 545 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,306 | 31.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Dennis Hallam.
Spitalfields by-election, 18 July 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Abbas Uddin | 784 | |
| | Independent | Muhammad A. Hannan | 775 | |
| | Conservative | Peter J. Ainsworth | 174 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,065 | 34.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Annie Elboz.
Blackwall by-election, 12 September 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Christine Shawcroft | 770 | |
| | Alliance | Jonathan P. Mathews | 645 | |
| | Conservative | Robert G. Hughes | 63 | |
| | BNP | David Ettridge | 33 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,003 | 37.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. John J. Boles.

### 1986-1990

Holy Trinity by-election, 3 July 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Belinda J. Knowles | 1,642 | |
| | Labour | Michael S. Chalkey | 957 | |
| | National Front | Roger S. Evans | 138 | |
| | Conservative | Paul W. E. Ingham | 22 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 685 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,851 | 40.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Belinda J. Knowles.
St Katharine's by-election, 22 September 1988 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John R. Biggs | 1,374 | |
| | SDP | Anhar Uddin | 485 | |
| | Conservative | Nicolas J. Gibb | 326 | |
| | Green | Derek England | 118 | |
| | Independent | Ronald W. Osborne | 50 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 889 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,459 | 28.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Mohammed S. Ahmed.
Lansbury by-election, 24 November 1988 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Stephen Bowen | 1,256 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter J. Hughes | 1,164 | |
| | BNP | David Ettridge | 49 | |
| | Conservative | Thomas M. Taylor | 31 | |
| | Green | Derek England | 21 | |
| | SDP | Anthony L. Norton | 21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,479 | 39.4 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Pauline P. Fletcher.

### 1990-1994

Park by-election, 19 July 1990 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ms. Elizabeth Baunton | 779 | 50.5 |
| | Labour | Philip N. Royal | 598 | 38.8 |
| | BNP | Stephen Smith | 130 | 8.4 |
| | Green | Derek England | 18 | 1.2 |
| | Conservative | John Livingstone | 17 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,271 | 36.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Margaret R. Atkins.
St Peter's by-election, 30 August 1990 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ms. Suzanne Sullivan | 1,030 | 45.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terence Cowley | 915 | 40.3 |
| | BNP | Kenneth Walsh | 275 | 12.1 |
| | Conservative | Ms. Sarah-Jane Quinlan | 53 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,375 | 30.8 |
| | Labour gain from Lib Dem Focus Team | Labour gain from Lib Dem Focus Team | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Brenda M. Collins.
Spitalfields by-election, 27 August 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Syed A. Mizan | 1,098 | 64.0 |
| | Conservative | Mohammed S. Bakth | 536 | 31.2 |
| | BNP | Kenneth A. Walsh | 82 | 4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 562 | 32.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,501 | 31.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Abbas Uddin.
Millwall by-election, 1 October 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edwin T. Johns | 1,275 | 38.7 | −6.3 |
| | Lib Dem Focus Team | Jonathan P. Mathews | 1,178 | 35.8 | −4.1 |
| | BNP | Barry J. Osborne | 657 | 20.0 | |
| | Conservative | Jeremy P. Fage | 182 | 5.5 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 2.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,756 | 33.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Ivan F. Walker.
Millwall by-election, 16 September 1993 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNP | Derek W. Beackon | 1,480 | 33.8 | |
| | Labour | James J. Hunt | 1,473 | 33.7 | −11.4 |
| | Lib Dem Focus Team | Jennifer E. Mills | 1,284 | 29.6 | −10.6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy R. Dickenson | 134 | 3.1 | −4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 0.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,960 | 44.0 | |
| | BNP gain from Labour | BNP gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. David J. Chapman.

### 1994-1998

Shadwell by-election, 15 September 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Michael J. Keith | 1,783 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard F. Roberts | 317 | |
| | BNP | Gordon Callow | 305 | |
| | Conservative | Paul W. E. Ingham | 74 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,466 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,848 | 36.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Albert Lilley.
Lansbury by-election, 15 December 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Michael C. Keating | 1,457 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Hughes | 844 | |
| | BNP | Derek W. Beackon | 562 | |
| | Conservative | John S. Livingstone | 24 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,832 | 49.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Eric A. Commons.
Weavers by-election, 22 February 1995 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Mohammed Ali | 1,388 | |
| | Ind. Lib Dem | Terry B. Milson | 551 | |
| | BNP | David M. King | 486 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sajjad Miah | 482 | |
| | Militant Labour | Hugo C. Pierre | 112 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 837 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,846 | 44.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Vanessa L. Peters.
Limehouse by-election, 9 November 1995 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | William E. Wakefield | 1,467 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul A. Bargery | 625 | |
| | BNP | Gordon T. Callow | 147 | |
| | Conservative | David C. Hoile | 53 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 842 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,877 | 39.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. John P. Ryan.
St Mary's by-election, 9 May 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Judith A. Gardiner | 1,027 | 62.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Langan | 267 | 16.3 |
| | Conservative | Reza A. Choudhury | 243 | 14.8 |
| | Militant Labour | Hugo C. Pierre | 106 | 6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 760 | 46.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,346 | 37.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Amanda Linton.

### 1998-2002

Holy Trinity by-election, 28 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sirajul Islam | 1,081 | 53.5 | +11.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rosina S. Tucker | 817 | 40.5 | −2.9 |
| | BNP | Lynda Miller | 74 | 3.7 | −1.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Pauline Kempster | 47 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 264 | 13.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,019 | 27.1 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Albert J. Snooks.

### 2002-2006

Blackwall & Cubitt Town by-election, 27 June 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brian Son | 686 | 31.3 | −12.3 |
| | Conservative | Timothy J. Archer | 676 | 30.8 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nurul Karim | 361 | 16.4 | −1.0 |
| | Independent | Terry D. Johns | 252 | 11.5 | +0.8 |
| | BNP | Gordon Callow | 87 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| | Independent | Eric Pemberton | 68 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| | Independent | Shah M. A. Haque | 21 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| | New Britain | Dennis W. Delderfield | 19 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Keith O. Magnum | 16 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Theresa R. Selby | 9 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,195 | 24.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Lutfur R. Ali.
St Dunstans & Stepney Green by-election, 29 July 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Respect | Oliur Rahman | 878 | 31.1 | +31.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jalal Uddin | 754 | 26.7 | +11.5 |
| | Labour | Shah H. Rahman | 578 | 20.4 | −24.4 |
| | Conservative | Alexander P. Story | 445 | 15.7 | −14.4 |
| | National Front | Lynda Miller | 172 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 4.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,827 | 29.9 | |
| | Respect gain from Labour | Respect gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the disqualification of Cllr. Nasir Uddin.
Millwall by-election, 9 September 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon P. Rouse | 828 | 34.8 | +15.0 |
| | Respect | Paul R. L. McGarr | 635 | 26.7 | +26.7 |
| | Labour | John C. Cray | 571 | 24.0 | −24.4 |
| | Independent | Andrew P. Sweeney | 195 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry A. Blandford | 150 | 6.3 | −7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 193 | 8.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,379 | 23.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Mumtaz Samad.

### 2006-2010

Shadwell by-election, 9 August 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Respect | Harun Miah | 1,512 | 43.2 | −1.7 |
| | Labour | Michael Keith | 1,415 | 40.4 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | William Crossey | 476 | 13.6 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rosie Clarke | 98 | 2.8 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 2.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,501 | 39.7 | |
| | Respect hold | Respect hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Shamin A. Chowdhury.
Millwall by-election, 1 May 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David A. Snowdon | 2,133 | 48.5 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | Doros Ullah | 1,421 | 32.3 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mohammed N. Uddin | 370 | 8.4 | −0.7 |
| | BNP | Jeffrey Marshall | 219 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| | Respect | Reza Mahbob | 170 | 3.9 | −11.5 |
| | Left List | Rebecaa J. Townesend | 83 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 712 | 16.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,396 | 38.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Simon P. Rouse.
Weavers by-election, 1 May 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fazlul Haque | 1,421 | 37.4 | +18.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John D. Griffiths | 930 | 24.5 | −16.2 |
| | Respect | Dilwara Begum | 637 | 16.8 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Gias U. Ahmed | 435 | 11.5 | +5.8 |
| | BNP | Russell Pick | 154 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | Sara A. J. Dixon | 143 | 3.8 | −3.9 |
| | Independent | Niru Murshid | 77 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 491 | 12.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,797 | 47.7 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Louise Alexander.
Mile End East by-election, 20 November 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rachael Saunders | 1,208 | 47.3 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Motiur Rahman | 630 | 24.7 | +13.7 |
| | Respect | Hafiz Choudury | 604 | 23.7 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jainal Chowdury | 110 | 4.3 | −15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 19.4 | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Rupert Bawden.

### 2010-2014

Spitalfields & Banglatown by-election, 16 December 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Respect | Fozol Miah | 666 | 45.4 |
| | Labour | Abdul Alim | 553 | 37.7 |
| | Conservative | Matt Smith | 135 | 9.2 |
| | Green | Maggie Crosbie | 52 | 3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ferdy North | 33 | 2.2 |
| | Independent | Jewel Choudhury | 28 | 1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 | 7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,827 | 16.8 |
| | Respect gain from Labour | Respect gain from Labour | Swing | 10.1 |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Lutfur Rahman.
Spitalfields & Banglatown by-election, 19 April 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Gulam Robbani | 1030 | |
| | Labour | Ala Uddin | 987 | |
| | Conservative | Matthew J. Smith | 140 | |
| | Green | Ms. Kirsty Blake | 99 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard A. Macmillan | 39 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.4% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the disqualification of Cllr. Ms. Shelina Akhtar.
Weavers by-election, 3 May 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Pierce | 1544 | |
| | Respect | Abjol Miah | 1260 | |
| | Conservative | Ms. Caroline J. Kerswell | 415 | |
| | Green | Alan Duffel | 373 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Azizur R. Khan | 208 | |
| | Independent | Oli Rothschild | 36 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.6% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Ms. Anna S. Lynch.

### 2014–2018

A by-election for the ward of Stepney Green was held on 11 June 2015, after the sitting councillor, Alibor Choudhury, was found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices by an election court.
Stepney Green by-election 11 June 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sabina Akhtar | 1,643 | 42.1 | −9.1 |
| | Independent | Abu Chowdhury | 1,472 | 37.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Kirsty Chestnutt | 272 | 7.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Paul Shea | 203 | 5.2 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | Safiul Azam | 158 | 4.0 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Will Dyer | 114 | 2.9 | −0.3 |
| | Something New | Jessie Macneil-Brown | 40 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 4.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,902 | 47.3 | |
| | Labour gain from Tower Hamlets First | Labour gain from Tower Hamlets First | Swing | | |
A by-election for the ward of Whitechapel was held on 1 December 2016, after the sitting councillor, Shahed Ali, was found guilty of housing fraud. Another independent candidate, Ahmed Shafi, won the seat.
Whitechapel by-election 1 December 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Shafi Ahmed | 1,147 | 42.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | Victoria Obaze | 823 | 30.6 | −22.3 |
| | Conservative | William Fletcher | 217 | 8.1 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Emanuel Andejelic | 173 | 6.4 | −2.2 |
| | Green | James Wilson | 170 | 6.3 | −2.4 |
| | UKIP | Martin Smith | 156 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 324 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,686 | 32.6 | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### 2018-2022

Lansbury by-election 7 February 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rajib Ahmed | 1,308 | 40.8 | +2.5 |
| | Aspire | Ohid Ahmed | 1,002 | 31.3 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Muhammad Abul Asad | 290 | 9.0 | +0.0 |
| | UKIP | Paul Shea | 176 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | Mumshad Afruz | 175 | 5.5 | −1.6 |
| | Green | John Urpeth | 166 | 5.2 | −1.5 |
| | The House Party Homes for Londoners | Terence McGrenera | 89 | 2.8 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 9.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,206 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Mohammad Harun.
Shadwell by-election 7 February 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Aspire | Harun Miah | 1,012 | 34.8 | +13.3 |
| | Labour | Asik Rahman | 914 | 31.5 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Abjol Miah | 484 | 16.7 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Daryl Stafford | 185 | 6.4 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Tim Kiely | 125 | 4.3 | −0.1 |
| | Independent | Kazi Mohammad Gous-Miah | 119 | 4.1 | −1.2 |
| | Women's Equality | Elena Scherbatykh | 65 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 3.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,904 | | |
| | Aspire gain from Labour | Aspire gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Ruhul Amin.
Weavers by-election 12 August 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Aspire | Kabir Ahmed | 1,204 | 46.5 | +31.4 |
| | Labour | Nasrin Akter Khanam | 742 | 28.6 | −21.8 |
| | Conservative | Elliott Weaver | 360 | 13.9 | +7.6 |
| | Green | Nathalie Sylvia Bienfait | 205 | 7.9 | −1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Emanuel Tomislav Andjelic | 50 | 1.9 | −5.7 |
| | TUSC | Hugo Pierre | 30 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 462 | 17.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,591 | | |
| | Aspire gain from Labour | Aspire gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John Pierce.

### 2022-2026

Bow East by-election 12 September 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Abdi Mohamed | 1,266 | 53.3 | +6.1 |
| | Green | Rupert George | 722 | 30.4 | +14.1 |
| | Conservative | Robin Edwards | 239 | 10.1 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Siobhan Proudfoot | 148 | 6.2 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 544 | 22.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,375 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Rachel Blake.