LABOUR PARTY’S SADIQ KHAN WINS A RECORD THIRD TERM AS MAYOR OF LONDON

Sat 04 May 2024:

Sadiq Khan clinched his third consecutive term as London’s mayor on Saturday (May 4), defeating Conservative contender Susan Hall in a widely anticipated victory. Khan’s win strengthens the Labour Party’s dominance over the Conservatives in local elections preceding the UK’s upcoming general elections.

Despite public concern over frequent knife attacks in the city and the contentious Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which imposes daily fees on drivers of older, more polluting vehicles, Khan maintained his lead. Since assuming office as London’s first Muslim mayor in 2016, Khan has pledged to boost social housing and collaborate with the Labour government to bolster police resources.

“It’s been a difficult few months, we faced a campaign of non-stop negativity,” Khan said in a speech after the results showed he had won 43.8% of the vote against 33% for the Conservatives’ candidate, Susan Hall.

“For the last eight years, London has been swimming against the tide of a Tory (Conservative) government and now with a Labour Party that’s ready to govern again under Keir Starmer, it’s time for Rishi Sunak to give the public a choice.”

Khan’s win further helped solidify the Labour Party’s overwhelming advantage over the ruling Conservatives in the local elections ahead of the UK’s general elections later this year.

Among Hall’s campaign promises was the elimination of the ULEZ, but her candidacy was marred by several blunders and accusations of racism due to her far-right content on social media

The ULEZ, a focal point of the Conservative campaign, contributed to the party’s victory in a London parliamentary by-election in 2023.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scaled back some of the UK’s climate objectives, arguing against burdensome targets on citizens.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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