John Biggs (London politician) Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth and Family

Biggs lost re-election in 2022 to Rahman and his newly formed Aspire Party by 40,804 (54.90%) to 33,487 (45.10%) votes, a result viewed by many as a surprise.

He is currently a Director (2022-) of Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association.

Under Boris Johnson he was a witty and bitter critic although the men developed a strange if challenging rapport. Aside from challenging the Mayor in debate he was for 7 years Chair of the London Assembly Budget Committee. He was also Chair of the GLA Audit Committee, which amomg other matters considered issues of conduct including of the Mayor. Upon his election as Mayor of Tower Hamlets in 2016 he stood down from the Assembly, and was succeeded by Unmesh Desai.

He was elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets in 2015, and reelected in 2018. In 2007 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary University, and of Birkbeck College in 2016.

Following the verdict in Erlam v Rahman a by-election was held on 11 June 2015. Biggs stood against an independent candidate Rabina Khan, who was endorsed by the disqualified Rahman. Biggs beat Khan with 32,754 (55.39%) votes to her 26,384 (44.61%).

Having won selection as the Labour candidate for directly elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Biggs stood against incumbent Lutfur Rahman in 2014. Rahman had previously won support from Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. Livingstone reversed his public position after auditors were appointed to investigate allegations of mismanagement and fraud at the council, but remained privately supportive.

In 2014 Rahman’s actions while in office led to government appointed commissioners being brought in to the council to review its grant making practices. Further investigations were ordered following the election court judgement in 2015. The final government direction was lifted in 2017.

He is an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary University (2007) and Birkbeck College (2016).

In 2000, he successfully ran for the City and East Constituency London Assembly seat. Over the course of a 16 year career in the Assembly he served as a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, London Health Commission, Deputy Chair of the London Development Agency, Deputy Chair of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Chair of Transport, Chair of Planning and Spatial Development, Chair of Regeneration, Chair of the London Assembly Budget Committee, and Chair of the GLA Audit Committee.

Biggs represented City and East Constituency at City Hall between 2000-2016, during the tenures of Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. Under Ken Livingstone’s, initially independent mayoralty, relationships were frosty due in part to the circumstances of Livingstone’s election and his subsequent support for Lutfor Rahman, but improved with time.

As Assembly Member between 2000-2008 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the London Development Agency (2004-2008) and served on the Metropolitan Police Authority (2000-2003), London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and the London Health Commission. He was appointed by Government as Deputy Chair of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (2004-2008). Within the Assembly, he was variously Chair of Transport, Chair of Planning and Spatial Development, and Chair of Regeneration.

After standing down as leader in 1995, he remained an active councillor but also attended Law School, served as Director of the Socialist Health Association (1997-2000), and was Deputy Chair of Bow Housing Action Trust (1995-2004).

He led Labour to a landslide victory in 1994, leading the campaign to remove the UK’s first BNP councillor, and the populist but discredited Liberal Democrat administration.

Biggs was first elected to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council in 1988 where he served as a Councillor for St Katharine’s Ward and later St Dunstan’s Ward until 2002. He was selected as Leader of the Labour Group in 1991, and became Council Leader in 1994 following a landslide election win.

He served as an elected politician in London, in Tower Hamlets and East London between 1988-2022. In his 20s, Biggs worked as a Systems Analyst in the City of London. Later, he was director of the Labour affiliated Socialist Health Association from 1997-2000.

Biggs was elected to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council in 1988, first as councillor for St Katharine’s Ward, and Later St Dunstan’s Ward until 2002. He was selected as the Labour Group leader in 1991, during the period the council was Liberal Democrat controlled (1986-1994).

He was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet and graduated from the University of Bristol in 1979 having studied Chemistry. He then studied Computer Science at Birkbeck College, University of London, and later studied Law at the University of Westminster while serving as a Councillor.

John Robert Biggs (born 19 November 1957) is a British Labour Co-op politician who was Mayor of Tower Hamlets between 2015 and 2022.