London Mayoral Election: Incumbent Sadiq Khan Faces 'Close' Contest As Results Expected To Reflect Gaza-Related Backlash

The London mayoral election is said to be close, with Conservative Susan Hall challenging incumbent Sadiq Khan. Low voter turnout and Muslim backlash over Gaza may impact Khan's chances.

The London mayoral election has reached a critical juncture with reports that the race hangs in the balance following a local elections backlash from Muslim voters over the party's stance on Gaza. An ally of Sadiq Khan, the incumbent mayor, expressed that the battle with Conservative Susan Hall is "definitely going to be close" with potentially just a few points separating the candidates, the UK-based Telegraph reported. Despite earlier presumptions writing off Hall's chances, warnings now suggest she could surpass expectations.

Reports indicate that the Conservative camp was encouraged by low turnout data on Friday night, hinting that many of Khan's previous supporters might have abstained from voting, according to the Telegraph. Ballot numbers were observed to decrease in areas where Khan performed well previously while increasing in Tory strongholds such as Bexley and Bromley.

Contrary to polls indicating Khan with a significant lead, the Telegraph cited sources within his camp dismissing these figures as inaccurate.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the uncertainty, attributing it partially to voters expressing their discontent over Khan's handling of the Gaza issue. Streeting emphasised, "We've always feared this race would be close so we were warning Londoners –  don’t take the risk of waking up with a Conservative mayor," urging Londoners not to risk waking up to a Conservative mayor, the Telegraph's report stated.

 “There’s no doubt, looking at some of the results across the country, that Gaza has been an issue, so we’ll have to wait and see. I really hope Sadiq will be re-elected.”

Moreover, Streeting noted that anger towards Khan over the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) policy has also impacted Labour support in the capital.

Khan himself took to social media in the eleventh hour, urging Londoners to vote, highlighting the risk of a Tory victory due to low voter turnout. “Low numbers of people voting means there is a real risk the Tory candidate could win,” he remarked.

London Mayor Election Results Could Signal Gaza-Related Backlash Among Muslim Voters

While ballots were cast on Thursday, the full tally will only be revealed on Saturday, with results expected from midday.

However, early indications from two council by-elections painted a bleak picture for Khan. Labour's vote share plummeted by 8.7 per cent in Hillingdon East, an area where ULEZ has been contentious, and the Tories clinched West Putney from Labour in south-west London, as per the report.

The backdrop of these results is the warning that a Gaza-related backlash among Muslim voters could also impact Labour's chances in the West Midlands mayoral race. Disaffected Muslim voters reportedly rallied behind an independent pro-Palestinian candidate, backed by George Galloway, the Telegraph reported.

Labour's setbacks extended beyond London, with heavy losses in Northern towns like Oldham, Bolton, and Blackburn, attributed to dwindling support from Muslim voters, as per the report.

MPs have interpreted these results as a wakeup call, advocating for a more assertive stance towards Israel from Labour leader Keir Starmer to regain trust in Muslim communities. In light of the electoral challenges, one MP underscored the need for a strategic review within the party, urging an end to top-down policy announcements irrespective of voting demographics.