Sadiq Khan wins Labour London mayor selection
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with a young flag bearer during the Pride In London parade on July 7, 2018 in London, England. (Tristan Fewings/Getty)
Sadiq Khan has won the vote to become Labour’s candidate in 2016 London mayoral contest.
The Tooting MP beat Tessa Jowell – the veteran Labour MP and strong favourite – by winning 59 per cent of the vote in the final round.
His unexpected victory was credited to the same Left-wing surge among London votes that helped Jeremy Corbyn become the favourite to win the Labour leadership on Saturday.
The other candidates in the race were Diane Abbot, the MP Hackney North and Stoke Newington, David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, Christian Wolmar, the transport writer and activist, and Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West – who wants to devolve more economic powers to London.
In June, Mr Khan became the first candidate for Mayor of London to sign a Pride in London pledge on LGBT rights.
The pledge includes commitments to tackle anti-LGBT hate crimes in the city, to lead a sexual health drive and push sex education within the LGBT community, to ensure the inclusion of same-sex relationship education in all London schools, and to establish LGBT+ education ambassadors.
Mr Khan said at the time: “I fully support Pride in London’s campaign to make London a world-leader in defending and advancing the rights of LGBT+ people.
“This city is already admired the globe over for being a beacon of inclusivity and tolerance, and as mayor I would work hard to strengthen that reputation and make the capital a welcoming home for all minority communities, irrespective of race, religion or sexual orientation.”
