Londonistan Mayoral Race Too Close to Call. No More "Ranked Choice"

 

Labour's under-fire Sadiq Khan begs Lib Dem and Green supporters to back him as he says London mayoral election is 'on a knife edge'. More than 1,000 Londoners have been murdered while he has been mayor

• Sadiq Khan is wooing Liberal Democrat and Green voters to back him as mayor
• More than 1,000 homicides have been recorded since Mr Khan was elected 

Sadiq Khan has been accused of failing Londoners on crime levels after it emerged that more than 1,000 people have been killed since he became mayor

Sadiq Khan has issued a plea for Liberal Democrat and Green supporters to back him as he seeks a third term as London's mayor.

In a pitch to 'fellow progressives', Mr Khan has launched what he describes as a 'love letter' campaign to persuade supporters of other parties to 'lend him their votes' in the election on May 2.

The mayor said he was 'under no illusion' about his chances, saying he 'could lose' to the Conservatives' Susan Hall due to changes in the voting system and arguing the election was 'on a knife edge'.

In previous contests, Londoners have been able to express a first and second preference, but this year's election will be held under the 'first past the post' system, meaning voters will only get one vote each.

He said: 'This election represents a real shift with major changes to the voting system brought in by the Tory Government to make it more likely their candidate will win.

Sadiq Khan is set to launch his 'love letter' campaign on Saturday with a visit to Kingston, in south-west London, a borough that has often backed the Liberal Democrats and has a council dominated by the party

Labour insiders fear Khan could lose to Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, Susan Hall, due to changes in the voting system and arguing the election was 'on a knife edge'.

'To all of those who gave me their second preference votes last time, I say thank you, and ask that you put your trust in me this year by lending me the sole vote you can cast for mayor.

'This election is a close two-horse race between me and the Conservative candidate. I'm under no illusion, I could lose in May.'

In an open letter to Liberal Democrat and Green supporters, Mr Khan added: 'At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than 5% ahead after the first round of voting.

'These are the finer margins we'll now be dealing with. That's why, today, I am making a direct appeal to Liberal Democrat and Green voters across our city to lend me their support to keep the Tories out and progressive politics in. Unlike last time around, there is no insurance policy with a second choice.

'I am asking for their help so that we don't wake up in six weeks' time to find our city's cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.'

Mr Khan is set to launch his 'love letter' campaign on Saturday with a visit to Kingston, in south-west London, a borough that has often backed the Liberal Democrats and has a council dominated by the party.

He will also urge voters to ensure they have photo ID, which they will need for the first time in order to vote in May's election.

Analysis of the electoral roll by the mayor's office suggested more than 900,000 Londoners could lack the necessary ID to vote.

Zoe Garbett, who is vying to become London's first Green mayor, said: 'If people want to vote Green, they can - and should! The Green Party has consistently come third in London and we are a growing force nationally.

Liberal Democrats' mayoral candidate, Rob Blackie, said: 'The Mayor has such a poor record that he can only resort to scaring people with the threat of the Conservatives'

Green Party candidate Zoe Garbett said: 'Sadiq Khan should be focusing on his record - and the fact he isn't suggests there isn't much to be talking about'

'Green Assembly members have a track record of delivering for Londoners. A Green mayor would be much more ambitious tackling the issues that really matter to voters: dealing with the housing crisis, making our city more affordable and a more accountable police service.

'Sadiq Khan should be focusing on his record - and the fact he isn't suggests there isn't much to be talking about. If he wants people to vote for him, he and the Labour Party need to be better.'

The Liberal Democrats' mayoral candidate, Rob Blackie, said: 'The Mayor has such a poor record that he can only resort to scaring people with the threat of the Conservatives.

'Support for the Conservatives in London is in freefall and it's obvious why: the party and their candidate has nothing in common with the values of Londoners. This couldn't be made clearer by the latest racism row.

'While the Tory candidate will not win, Sadiq Khan doesn't deserve a free run. Since he became Mayor, we are catching rapists half as often and the entire Met Police is in crisis.

'After eight years in charge, Londoners need a Mayor who will deliver. Liberal Democrat supporters and disappointed Khan voters should vote Liberal Democrat. '

A spokesman for Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate, said: 'Sadiq Khan's record is so poor, the only tool he has left is playing politics. If he had listened to Londoners, he would know that they are calling for a Mayor who will get a grip of crime, build more affordable family homes and scrap the ULEZ expansion on day one. Only Susan can deliver that.'

Sadiq Khan's Transport for London has been telling London motorists their cars do not meet emissions standards, so they will have to pay the £12.50 daily charge, despite not having any emissions data for a vast number of models

A TfL ULEZ camera in Harefield has been covered over by pictures of London Mayor Sadiq Khan with the words 'thief' and 'liar' written underneath the pictures

Sadiq Khan's controversial ULEZ expansion generated £5.3million in its first week

Sadiq Khan's Transport for London tried to fleece drivers out of a massive £23.1million through fines which wrongly said their cars were not Ulez-compliant

Lee Anderson has been suspended by the Conservative party after he refused to apologise for 'Islamophobic, racist' comments where he claimed that London Mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by 'Islamists'

Sadiq Khan has hit out against Lee Anderson for 'pouring fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred' after the Tory MP made 'Islamophobic, racist' comments about him

Lee Anderson (pictured) said on GB News that Sadiq Khan - the first Muslim Mayor of London - is controlled by Islamists and that he has 'given our capital city away to his mates'

The ex-deputy Tory chairman said on GB News that Khan (pictured) is controlled by Islamists and that he has 'given our capital city away to his mates'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan hit out at Mr Anderson for his 'Islamophobic, anti-Muslim, racist' remarks

Suella Braverman claimed that 'the truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now'

Just before the bongs of Big Ben sounded on New Year's midnight in London, a message saying 'The Mayor of London presents…' was written high in the sky

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: According to Mayor For Life Genghis Khan, this was London's 'best and biggest New Year celebration'

Mr Khan lumped Susan Hall in with US president Trump and former home secretary Suella Braverman as he warned the vote would be 'the first test of whether the extreme right can be held back'.

Sadiq Khan has hired a goon squad of thugs with face tattoos wearing skeleton balaclavas 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan unveils the new Overground lines at Highbury and Islington yesterday. His leftist choice of names have caused a controversy.

The new Lioness, Mildmay, Windrush, Weaver, Suffragette and Liberty lines on the Overground. All names refer to leftist movements and such.

The world's first Underground line, the Metropolitan Railway, opened in 1863. It evolved into what is now the Metropolitan line. Above: VIPs trying out the new line

Amy Lamé, pictured here with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, travelled to Australia, Italy and Spain in the space of 12 months in her role as the Mayor's 'night tsar'. Ms Lamé took up the role of London's nightlife tsar in 2016 and since then has seen her salary rise from £80,000 to £116,925

One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, complained London's nightlife is 'practically nonexistent'

Sadiq Khan has been accused of betraying London taxpayers after figures revealed 1,100 City Hall employees earn £100,000 or more

Elliot Keck, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'City Hall is bursting at the seams with the growing number of officials bringing home the big bucks'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing pressure to sack three of his advisors for anti-semitism

One advisor, Sayce Holmes-Lewis. He is a member of the London Policing Board. He said he could never respect Israel as a country.

Advisor Asma Shah sits on the Mayor's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group. She accused Israel of genocide.

Mr Khan called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Mayor of London said he fears a 'disproportionate' response by Israel to the 'terrorist' attacks by Hamas.

Pro-Palestine protesters gathered near the Israeli embassy in London to chant 'Israel is a terrorist state', 'Free Palestine' and 'Allahu akbar'

The London mayor became the most high profile figure to back calls for a complete break in fighting between Israel and Hamas

Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely said the Jewish community felt fear due to 'jihad ideology' being witnessed in London. Ms Hotovely has also criticised the BBC's decision not to refer to Hamas as terrorists.

The anti-Israeli backlash in London has seen posters bearing the photos of kidnap victims torn down from walls across the capital. 

London mayor Sadiq Khan accused the Conservative party of 'enabling anti-Muslim hatred'