London Mayor Election: Labour Party's Sadiq Khan has clinched a historic third term as the Mayor of London, emerging victorious in a closely contested battle against Conservative candidate Susan Hall, as per election results declared on Saturday afternoon. Despite early polling suggesting a comfortable lead for Khan, the contest remained fiercely competitive, with Khan himself characterising it as a "close two-horse race".
"Winning this election was never going to be easy, and I'm deeply humbled that Londoners have put their faith in me for a third term," remarked Khan on his victory, as quoted by the Guardian.
The 53-year-old Pakistani-origin Labour candidate garnered an impressive 1,088,225 votes, commanding a substantial 43.8 per cent vote share. This marked a significant lead over his closest rival, Conservative candidate Susan Hall, who trailed behind with 812,397 votes – a clear majority of over 275,000.
He took to X and posted, "Thank you, London. It's the honour of my life to serve the city I love. 🙏🏿 Today is not about making history, it’s about shaping our future. And I'll work relentlessly to shape a fairer, safer, greener city for every Londoner."
The outcome of the election hinged on a variety of factors, including voter turnout and shifting sentiments towards the political parties. According to London Elects, the voter turnout stood at 40.5%, with Bexley and Bromley recording the highest constituency turnout at 48%.
Khan's team exuded confidence as Labour secured key constituencies from the Conservatives, signalling a turning tide in the race well before the final result was announced.
London Mayor Election 2024
However, the path to victory was not without its challenges. Labour sources cited by the Guardian described a tense atmosphere on Friday night, with a temporary halt in the counting process leading to a vacuum filled by speculation and rumour-mongering on social media.
"This election has been a rollercoaster ride, with twists and turns that kept us on edge until the very end," admitted a Labour insider, as quoted by the Guardian's report.
Significantly, this mayoral election marked the first time voters encountered changes to the electoral system introduced by the Conservatives, including a shift to a first-past-the-post contest and the requirement to present photo ID at polling stations. These changes were expected to impact Labour's vote share.
Meanwhile, criticism was levelled at Hall's campaign strategy, with some observers noting a lack of substantive vision beyond anti-Khan rhetoric.
"In London, there's been no positive vision, and Hall is hardly a local champion. She has only set out what she won't do," remarked a London Conservative MP, as per the report.
Notably, despite controversies surrounding some of Khan's policies, such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone tariff, his popularity remained largely intact. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed confidence in Khan's ability to deliver, citing his track record of accomplishments over two terms, news agency PTI reported.
The role of London Mayor, representing the capital's 8.9 million inhabitants and overseeing a budget of GBP 20.4 billion, encompasses crucial responsibilities including transport, policing, and housing.
In parallel developments, popular Labour incumbent Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham secured re-election with 63 per cent of the vote. Burnham reiterated his commitment to advancing key reforms, including transport, welfare, and housing.