Susan Hall: Tory London mayor candidate is ‘hard-right’ Trump fan who wants trans women out of sports
Conservatives select Donald Trump supporter Susan Hall as candidate for London Mayor in 2024. (Screengrab/GB News)
Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, is a “hard-right, out-of-touch” Trump supporter who’s faced criticism for her comments on race and trans rights.
Hall, a member of the London Assembly, will go up for election against incumbent Labour mayor Sadiq Khan in the 2024 election, the Conservatives announced on Wednesday (19 July).
Though hardly a household name, Hall is notorious in certain online spaces for her right-wing rhetoric. She’s previously faced criticism for her support of indicted former US President Donald Trump, her statements about trans people, and for claiming in 2022 that the Black community in London has a āproblem with crimeā.
Who is Susan Hall?
Susan Hall has been a member of the London Assembly since 2017, and from 2019 to 2023 was leader of the Assemblyās Conservative group.
The politician from Harrow beat Mozammel Hossain to become the partyās London Mayoral candidate for 2024, winning 57 per cent of the vote, which she described as a “huge honour”.
Hall has said that her āpassion is policingā, and has pledged to invest in the Met Police to ātackle the scourge of knives, modernise the police to use the latest artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology, and work to dismantle the gangs and organised crime networks that ruin so many livesā.
She has also said she will scrap Sadiq Khanās plan to expand the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) āon day oneā if elected.
Hall spoke in support of Donald Trump during his 2020 reelection bid, agreed with Suella Bravermanās description of migrants as an āinvasionā in 2022, and has opposed trans women participating in womenās sports.
London Labour criticised her for being out of touch with London’s diverse population, telling PinkNews: āThe Conservative candidate for Mayor is a hard-right politician who couldnāt be more out of touch with our city and its values.
“Sheās an outspoken supporter of Trump, Boris Johnson and a hard Brexit. She cheered Liz Truss’s mini-Budget, which sent mortgages and rents soaring. She doesn’t stand up for women. And she hates London’s diversity.
āLondoners deserve better than a candidate who represents the worst of the Tory failure and incompetence over the last 13 years.”
What has Susan Hall said about trans people?
Susan Hall has spoken out about the trans community on Twitter several times, claiming ātrans athletes should not be allowed to participate in womenās sportsā in a tweet to GB News.
She has often described trans rights as being in competition with women’s sports, telling TalkTV in April: “Trans people deserve to have their rights protected… but this has got to be balanced with the rights of women. We have been watching our rights diminish.”
She also opposed Scotlandās struck-down gender recognition bill, which would have made it easier for trans people to update the sex marker on their birth certificates, though she did claim ātrans rights are importantā, as is ārespecting the trans communityās positionā.
She has attacked trans-inclusive language, tweeting in February: “‘People of all genders get abortions’ ā err, no they don’t.”
Hall has previously aligned herself with equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, describing her as āfantasticā.
Badenoch has been criticised for her stance on trans rights and was documented mocking trans people in a leaked recording from 2018. Hall defended Badenoch following her appointment, saying: āShe is not anti-trans, sheās pro protecting womenās private/safe spaces and competitive sports”.
London Assembly member for the Green Party, Zack Polanski, said that he would caution Hall against “trying to fuel culture wars” during her run for London mayor.
“London is an inclusive city that is proud of our LGBTQIA+ heritage. I work with Susan Hall in the London Assembly … and Iād caution her against trying to fuel culture wars. It’s vital we have a democratic election where our community’s rights are not at risk,” he told PinkNews.
Who else is running for London mayor?
Sadiq Khan will be running for London mayor in 2024, and has said he wants to āsend a messageā to the Tories in seeking to become the first politician to hold the office for three terms.
ā[This is] an opportunity for Londoners to send a message to the Tories, not only for crashing the economy but for their anti-London approach,ā Khan said.
Khan has consistently supported the LGBTQ+ community throughout his tenure as London mayor since 2016, calling for the trans community to be ārespected and celebratedā, rather than āsimply toleratedā.
Khan has also celebrated the queer community through art installations like blue plaques around London, and has laid out plans to tackle āhomophobia and racismā within the Met Police.
The Greens have chosen Hackney councillor Zoƫ Garbett as their candidate for the election, while the Liberal Democrats will choose between a shortlist of tech industry advisor Rob Blackie and community advocate Chris French.
Garbett said in a statement to PinkNews: “Trans rights are human rights and our community must stick together.”
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