Sadiq Khan, the new London mayor, has accused United Kingdom prime minister David Cameron and his defeated opponent, Zac Goldsmith, of deploying tactics “straight out of the Donald Trump playbook” by trying to turn different ethnic communities against each other to stop him winning in the capital.
Advertisement
In England, Labour lost control of Dudley Council in the West Midlands, but held on to major cities including Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland, as well as key southern outposts such as Exeter, Southampton, Crawley and Slough.
Some of the fault lines surrounding Khan’s election were visible on social media as soon it became clear he was the most likely candidate to win.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomed the news, saying: “I assure him of my prayers for his time in this important office in which he will face the great challenges of London, in its richness, diversity and energy”.
Khan is a Labour Party leader and former human rights lawyer.
Khan broke the eight-year hold of the Conservatives on City Hall and succeeds the charismatic Boris Johnson in a prestigious post that has responsibility for transport, housing, policing and promoting economic development.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is celebrating what she said was an “emphatic” victory, her first as party leader, after the SNP emerged as the largest party at Holyrood with 63 seats, ahead of the Conservatives on 31 and Labour on 24.
The new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has started his first day in his new job – by taking the bus to work.
Corbyn’s spokesman said: “We don’t discuss Jeremy’s movements but he will undertake a significant number of public engagements with the Labour In campaign in the next few weeks”.
“So I wanted to do this signing-in ceremony here, in the heart of London, surrounded by Londoners of all backgrounds”.
The victory also makes him one of the most prominent Muslim politicians in the West. In his acceptance speech, he said the election “was not without controversy”, adding that he was “proud that London has today chosen hope over fear and unity over division”.
Writing in The Observer, the London mayor set out the lessons he had learned from his successful campaign.
“In the rough and tumble of elections, you get stuff said, questions asked”, Fallon told the BBC when asked if he regretted describing Khan as a “Labour lackey” who speaks alongside extremists.
Khan was sworn-in as mayor of London at a multi-faith ceremony in Southwark Cathedral.
Advertisement
Mr Khan’s success was seen as an embarrassment for the Tory camp, prompting some Conservatives and Mr Goldsmith’s own sister, Jemima Khan, to criticise their election tactics.
