Overview

• Tower Hamlets Council confirmed it has allocated £27,191 to ten community language projects teaching Somali, Bengali, Arabic, Lithuanian and other mother tongues.
• The largest single allocation of £10,458 funds four Bengali language classes, while Somali programmes receive £1,500 and Lithuanian courses £4,900.
• Office for National Statistics data shows 27% of residents do not speak English as their main language and some wards report over 15% limited proficiency.
• Opponents contend that taxpayer-funded mother tongue lessons undermine English proficiency and weaken social cohesion by reducing incentives to learn English.
• Local business owners warn that council rent increases of up to 300% threaten to force longstanding shops to close during the borough’s housing emergency.