LABOUR’S Sadiq Khan has won the race to become London’s new Mayor – and has
vowed to be a mayor for all Londoners.
It became mathematically impossible on Friday afternoon for his Tory rival Zac
Goldsmith to catch him in the race for City Hall.
However Mr Khan, who has become the capital’s first Muslim Mayor, was not
formally declared the winner until 12.20am on Saturday due to a counting
error.
In his victory speech, Mr Khan said: “I grew up on a council estate just a few
miles from here.
“Back then, I never dreamt that someone like me could be elected as Mayor of
London, and I want to say thank you to every single Londoner for making the
impossible possible today.
“I have a burning ambition for London, an ambition that will guide me every
day as mayor of our great city.
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“I want every single Londoner to get the opportunities that our city gave to
me and my family.
“The opportunities not just to survive, but to thrive, the opportunities to
build a better future for you and your family with a decent and affordable
home and a comfortable commute you can afford, more jobs with better pay,
not just being safe but feeling safe, cleaner air and a healthier city.
“And the opportunities for all Londoners to fulfil their potential.”
Mr Khan paid tribute to his late father, an immigrant from Pakistan and a
London bus driver, who he described as “a wonderful man and a great dad”.
“He would have been so proud today – proud that the city he chose to call
his home has now chosen one of his children to be the mayor,” he said.
To loud cheering from supporters in City Hall, Mr Khan said: “I promise
to always be a mayor for all Londoners, to work hard to make life better for
every Londoner, regardless of your background and to do everything in my
power to ensure you get the opportunities that our incredible city gave to
me.”
In a Facebook post, defeated Zac Goldsmith also congratulated Mr Khan and
thanked “the hundreds of thousands of people who trusted me with their
votes”.
The positive result will be welcomed by Labour after
officials were forced to beg their own MPs not to try and oust Jeremy Corbyn
following a set of disastrous results.
The leftie leader became the first Opposition Leader in modern times to lose
English councillors in his first ballot box test.
Mr Khan’s win comes after Mr Goldsmith was attacked for running a divisive
campaign focussing on his opponent’s supposed links to ‘extremists’.
The Conservative MP for Richmond was accused of using ‘dog whistle politics’
and coded racism to drive voters away from the Labour candidate.
But the strategy by CTF, the firm run by Lynton Crosby – who masterminded
David Cameron’s 2015 General Election win – backfired horribly.
He was criticised by senior figures in the party such as former chairman
Baroness Warsi, herself a Muslim, who was upset by a piece written Mr
Goldsmith linking Labour to terrorists.
And as his defeat seemed certain a host of Tories lined up to attack his
campaign, with London Assembly member Andrew Boff saying he had “blown
up bridges” in the capital.
Sad that Zac’s campaign did not reflect who I know him to be- an eco friendly, independent- minded politician with integrity.
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan)
Even his
own sister criticised his campaign, Jemima Goldsmith tweeting to say it
did “not reflect who I know him to be”.
But a senior Tory source hit back, saying: “We raised legitimate questions
about the people with whom Sadiq Khan had shared a platform.
“The idea that is in some way off limits or racist is something we
completely reject.”
Another Tory source added: “Zac Goldsmith got the highest swing in the country
last election for a reason – because he’s incredibly decent.
“He has been hugely let down by CTF’s Mark Fullbrook and out of control
Tory staffers who didn’t understand him or what Londoners wanted.”
Boris Johnson also claimed that Zac had run a “terrific” campaign despite the
ballot box blow.
Instead voters in London have flocked to the Labour son of a bus driver from
south London, who served as a minister under Gordon Brown.
Before becoming an MP in 2005 the 45 year-old was a human rights lawyer, and
ran on a platform of transport fare freezes and building more affordable
housing.
With the final votes still being counted, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn led
congratulations from the party’s MPs.
He posted on Twitter “Congratulations Sadiq Khan. Can’t wait to work with
you to create a London that is fair for all!”
Congratulations . Can’t wait to work with you to create a London that is fair for all!
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn)
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, offered her “felicitations” on
Twitter, saying she was looking forward to strengthening co-operation
between the two capitals on key issues like housing, pollution and culture.
And the Tooting MP was congratulated by New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio on
social media.
Sending congratulations to London’s new Mayor and fellow affordable housing advocate, . Look forward to working together!
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio)
Tory Cabinet Minister Sajid Javid also congratulated Mr Khan, adding it was “from
one son of a Pakistani bus driver to another”.
. from one son of a Pakistani bus driver to another, congratulations
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid)