Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged young people to vote on May 2 (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
PA wire
Mayor since 2016, previously Labor MP for Tooting. Former lawyer, married with two adult daughters. Political boxer who finds it difficult to resist a verbal attack on the Tories. Often deflects criticism of his record by blaming the government. Aiming to become London's first three-term mayor.
Policy: Free school meals for primary school children
What is feasible? Introduced as a one-year “emergency measure” to ease living costs, free school meals have proven so popular that Mr Khan wants to make them permanent. What remains unsaid is that he would have faced a political backlash if he had scrapped them. But the annual cost of £140 million – which is currently being drawn upon City Hall reserves and business rates – could push up council taxes in the future.
Policy: Exclude road charges per kilometer
What is feasible? Normally, candidates are judged on what they plan to do. The row that the Tories have stirred up over the Ulez and the congestion charge potentially being replaced by a 'smart' pay-by-the-mile system is so big that Mr Khan felt obliged to make it clear that this will not come under his watch to happen. He claims Ulez's 'success' means he can meet 'net zero' targets by 2030 without having to pay per kilometer. But the impact of the expansion on air quality is still unknown, and the abolition of pay-per-mile weakens its green reputation.
Policy: Freezing of metro and bus fares
What he promises: “Freeze TfL rates until at least 2025 and continue to freeze rates as long as economic conditions allow.”
What is feasible? Mr Khan has 'frozen' rates five times since 2016, but that's not as good as it sounds. Single pay-as-you-go fares may have remained unchanged, but the daily and weekly multi-journey 'limit' and the cost of Travelcards have continued to rise – meaning passengers who make multiple journeys pay more. His first four-year fares freeze deprived TfL of £640m and the latest freeze – until March next year – requires £123m in town hall funds to plug the hole in TfL's budget.
Policy: End homelessness and clean up the Thames
What he promises: “I will put London on course to end rough sleeping by 2030… I will launch an ambitious plan to make London's rivers swimmable within a decade.”
What is feasible? The number of people living on the streets has increased by 71 percent since 2016. At last count, 4,389 people were sleeping on the streets. As for making the Thames swimmable, a massive clean-up operation would be required: there were 1,180 sewage leaks last year.
Susan Hall, Conservative candidate for Mayor of London
Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Member of the London Assembly, former council leader of Harrow, grandmother, lapsed Twitter addict. Self-imposed alcohol ban until after May 2. “The most dangerous mayoral candidate I have ever met,” says Khan.
Policy: Scrap the Ulez expansion
What is feasible? If elected, Ms Hall will be able to stop TfL from charging drivers of non-compliant vehicles. But the Ulez expansion has earned TfL around £150 million since August last year. She has not explained how she will replace it, or whether the fines imposed through Election Day will be enforced.
Policy: 1,500 more Met police and return to city policing
What she promises: “I will recruit 1,500 new police officers…. as part of a major overhaul of the Met Police.”
What is feasible? A year ago the Met had 34,500 officers. The number has fallen to 34,000 as it struggles to recruit and retain new employees. The costs of opening two police bases per municipality are unknown. An estimated 36 police stations have been closed across London. Returning to city police will also likely cost more, but could improve response and community relations.
Policy: Extend the night tube
What she promises: “I will extend the Night Tube to the Hammersmith and City line. I will look to extend it further to the Circle, District and Metropolitan lines if possible.”
What is feasible? The Night Tube offers a cheap and, above all, safe way to get home at the weekend. Extension to the District line would be more useful than the Hammersmith and City. But Mr Khan liked the idea so much that he promised to do the same.
Policy: Women's Commissioner; targeting sexual harassment on the subway
What she promises: “I will appoint a women's commissioner whose sole focus will be implementing a strategy to make our city safer for women.”
What is feasible? Great idea, especially in light of Sarah Everard's murder. It could bring a different perspective to many policing and transportation decisions.
Bridging the gap: Zoe Garbett, Green candidate
Delivered
Young, fashionable, energetic Green Councilor in Hackney. NHS administrator. Tenant. Eloquent, thoughtful and yet surprisingly careful when it comes to tolls. Breakthrough star of the mayoral campaign.
Policy: Free bus travel for under 22s
What she promises: “Immediately freeze bus fares, with free bus travel for under-22s and asylum seekers.”
What is feasible? At £1.75, bus fares in London are already the lowest in the country. Mr Khan has deliberately kept them low, knowing that poorer Londoners rely on buses rather than the Tube. But the number of bus passengers is declining, largely because buses get stuck in traffic jams.
Policy: Fixed fares for metro and rail
What she promises: “Work towards a single, low fare for all public transport
What is feasible? The aim is to make traveling in the suburbs of London cheaper. The danger is that the opposite could happen as TfL needs to break even on a daily basis. Without fares revenue, TfL would struggle to find the billions needed to maintain the metro. The idea would be tried out on the DLR.
What she promises: “Demand rent control powers for London, and introduce a two-year freeze if we get one.”
What is feasible? This is fantasy. The mayor does not have the power to control private sector rents. Government legislation would be needed. Rents would likely rise as many landlords who choose to rent would leave the sector, reducing the supply of housing.
Policy Free meals for high school students; Hammersmith Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians only
What she promises: “Extend universal free school meals. Permanently designate Hammersmith Bridge for walking, cycling and cycling.”
What is feasible? Extending free school meals to secondary school pupils would still cost at least £140m a year – but would be cheaper and easier than reopening Hammersmith Bridge to cars.
Rob Blackie, Liberal Democrat
Lib Dem mayoral candidate Rob Blackie
Andrew King Photography
Advisor to tech start-up companies. Spent two years in Africa on elephant conservation projects. Father of two. Cancer survivor.
Policy: Fix the Metropolitan Police
What he promises: “I will ensure the Met focuses on convicting violent offenders and rapists.”
What is feasible? The Met's clearance rate for sexual offenses has fallen from 18 per cent in 2015/2016 to nine in 2022/2023. Mr Blackie would create a sex crimes unit, free up 6,000 'back office' police officers and boost the use of technology.
Policy: 'London passport' for EU citizens
What he promises: that he would “help EU citizens by providing legal support for their right to remain in Britain.”
What is feasible? The City Hall does not have the authority to issue passports. Likely to provide marginal benefit, but recognizes skills shortages since Brexit.
Policy: Hail-and-ride buses
What he promises: “Run a trial of stopping buses after 10pm so you can catch the next bus… which improves safety.”
What is feasible? Would it be safe for passengers to get on or off the bus at random locations?
Policy: Solar panels for £500
What he promises: “Londoners will be paid up to £500 to install solar panels, which will be repaid by allowing the London government to sell this electricity back to the grid.”
What is feasible: An earlier plan for city hall had several problems.