Sadiq Khan tipped to win Mayoral election

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Sadiq Khan, left, on target to beat Zac Goldsmith to become Mayor

Labour’s Sadiq Khan is expected to be named as the new Mayor of London.

With all first-preference votes counted, Khan was on 46 per cent, nine points ahead of his nearest rival, Tory Zac Goldsmith, and in an almost unassailable position. If his election is confirmed – probably by 10pm today (May 6) – he will become London’s first muslim mayor.

Peter Kellner, former head of the polling company YouGov told the Guardian Khan had “won without question”, while political leaders began tweeting their congratulations.

The Labour candidate was clearly ahead of all eleven other candidates including his main opponent, Goldsmith.

Among the first to congratulate Khan was the former Labour leader Ed Miliband, who tweeted: “You will be an outstanding Mayor of London. Your positive vision & dignity beat a campaign of fear and division.”

Criticism of Goldsmith’s campaign has centred on unfounded allegations that Khan was associated with muslim extremists.

Khan is currently MP for Tooting and is planning to step down following his election as London Mayor. He grew up on a South London housing estate where he attended the local comprehensive school. He is famously known for being a bus driver’s son. A former human rights lawyer, Khan was one of the first British muslims to sit on the frontbench in Parliament when he worked in his ministerial role for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Promising to be a “Mayor for all Londoners”, Khan’s says his main aim is to improve public transport by freezing fares for the next four years and introducing a system whereby commuters can change buses within an hour and not be charged the fare twice. He has also pledged to improve housing by basing new housing rent on local income and giving Londoners first choice when it comes to new housing.

Prominent UK politicians have taken to Twitter to congratulate Khan on his victory:

The other eleven candidates running for Mayor were: Zac Goldsmith for the Conservative Party, Caroline Pidgeon for the Liberal Democrats, Sian Berry for the Green Party, Peter Whittle for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), David Furness for the British National Party (BNP), George Galloway for Respect, Paul Golding for Britain First, Lee Harris for The Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol Party, Ankit Love for the One Love Party, Sophie Walker for the Women’s Equality Party and Prince Zylinski who ran independently.

Voters in the ELL boroughs came out to choose their new Mayor.

Croydon and Sutton constituency voted for Goldsmith. Khan came a close second with Liberal Democrats’ Caroline Pidgeon coming third.

Lewisham and Greenwich voted for Khan. Goldsmith came second and Green party candidate Sian Berry came third.

City and East, which includes the borough Tower Hamlets, have voted for Khan with a large majority. Goldsmith came second, followed by Berry.

North East constituency, which includes Hackney, has voted for Khan also with a strong majority. Goldsmith again came second followed by Berry.

The twenty-five London Assembly members have also been elected. Their role is to hold the Mayor to account by examining his or her decisions, actions and strategies. Together with the Mayor they are responsible for housing, policing, transport, planning and the environment.

For the constituency City and East, which include the boroughs Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham and the City of London Labour’s Unmesh Desai won the election by a large majority. The Conservatives’ candidate Christopher Chapman came second.

Lewisham and Greenwich have elected Labour party candidate Len Duvall. Conservative candidate Adam Thomas came second.

Croydon and Sutton constituency made up from the boroughs Croydon and Sutton have elected Stephen John O’Connell for the Conservative party.

North East constituency, which is made up of boroughs Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest have elected Labour candidate Jennette Arnold. Sam Malik for the Conservative party came second.

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