Sadiq Khan is set for a third term as mayor of London after defeating his Tory rival – swirling rumors he could be ousted in response to ULEZ, crime And Gaza.
The incumbent Labor party defeated Susan Hall by more than 11 percentage points, receiving 1,088,225 votes to her 811,518.
A Labor source hailed the victory, insisting Khan had “done better than anyone expected” and had gained ground on the Conservatives 'opposite London'.
They said the mayor has been 're-elected with by far the largest direct mandate in Britain and the second largest in Europe'.
“He is deeply humbled and grateful that 1,088,225 Londoners have lent him their vote and pledged to deliver on it for every Londoner – whoever they voted for,” the source added.
As the declarations were made in the fourteen electoral districts, it quickly became clear that Tory hopes for a shock, driven by speculation that turnout had fallen in central London, were wide of the mark.
The margin is significantly bigger than the 4.7 points he beat Shaun Bailey by in the last match in 2021, and the biggest win in two decades.
It will fuel Conservative scrutiny over how they got Ms Hall as their candidate – and why she was unable to capitalize on anger over the mayor's actions.
Sadiq Khan (pictured this morning with his wife Saadiya) has emerged victorious in his bid for a third term as Mayor of London
Pre-election polls showed the incumbent president on course for a comfortable victory over Tory rival Susan Hall (pictured)
During a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he was 'confident' Mr Khan could retain control of the town hall.
An ally of Mr Khan said: 'Sadiq has increased his share of the vote, both in places in inner and outer London.
“Londoners have clearly rejected the Tories' overwhelmingly negative and divisive campaign.
'Labour's positive campaign resonated with Londoners, focusing on Sadiq's offer of free school meals to cover living costs and keeping fares low, as well as his world-leading green campaign.
'And this result gives Sadiq the mandate to deliver on the bold promises he campaigned on to build a fairer, safer and greener London for all.'
The ally said Labor under Sir Keir was “winning the areas needed for a general election majority”, suggesting Khan will use his victory speech to reiterate demands for an immediate general election.
Opinion polls ahead of Thursday's vote showed Khan with a comfortable lead of between 10 and 22 points.
Yesterday, however, jitters began to spread through Labor circles about a spike in turnout in London's suburbs – usually dominated by Conservative voters and where anger at the ULEZ The expansion has been the most intense.
Supporters of Mr Khan raised concerns that he could have been damaged by a wider trend of Muslim voters shunning Labour Keir Starmer's strong support for Israel.
But Keir Starmer this morning insisted he was “confident” Mr Khan can retain control of City Hall.
That position proved correct when the statements began this morning.
Mr Khan polled 83,792 votes in Greenwich and Lewisham, one of the first London boroughs to announce its mayoral vote, with Ms Hall on 36,822.
That represented a 4.5 percent swing from Tories to Labor compared to the previous contest in 2021.
The count will take place today at the ExCel center in London
In Merton and Wandsworth, Mr Khan received 84,725 and Mrs Hall 50,976.
That was a swing of 5.1 percent compared to the Conservatives.
Mr Khan also recorded leading positions in the West Central area – with 54,481 to 43,405 for Ms Hall – where Tory candidates have previously triumphed.
In the North East he was ahead by 127,455 to 34,099, and in the South West by 77,011 to 68,856 – although there are nine results still to come.
The only exception was in Bexley and Bromley, where Ms Hall polled a whopping 111,216 votes, more than double the 48,952 for Mr Khan.
Asked on Sky News yesterday about the jitters in London, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting – MP for Ilford North – said: 'We have always been concerned that this race would be close.'
The total number of votes in London was 2,495,621.
The row over the extension of the £12.50-a-day ULEZ charge was previously credited with helping the Tories hold on at the Uxbridge by-election, although Mr Khan's team believed the fallout was under way were disappearing.
Mr Khan was one of the first Labor politicians to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but Sir Keir's strong support for Israel's right to self-defence angered many supporters.
There was evidence of this in the results yesterday, when Labor lost overall control of Oldham council after independents claimed seats.
Senior allies of Mr Khan had told MailOnline it 'will be close'.
The latest surveys gave Mr Khan a lead of between 10 and 22 points
But confidence grew over the course of the day.
Lord Keir said: 'Sadiq Khan was absolutely the right candidate. He has completed two delivery terms and I am confident he has another delivery term ahead of him.”
Khan came under intense scrutiny during the campaign over his law and order record after a 14-year-old schoolboy became the latest knife victim. crime in the capital.
Minister of Internal Affairs James Slim was among those who decried the mayor's perceived failures, with calls to do so every frontline officer must be equipped with a Taser.
Ms Hall called on Londoners to take their 'last chance to vote for a mayor who will get a grip on crime and keep people safe, stop the ULEZ expansion, halt Khan's pay-per-mile plans and more will build family homes that people can use. to afford'.
Conservative MP for Sutton Paul Scully, who ran unsuccessfully for Tory mayor of London, said his party had “gifted” Khan victory and ran an “incredibly disappointing campaign” in the capital.
Rob Blackie, the Lib Dem candidate who served as research director for then party leader Charles Kennedy during the Iraq war, has already conceded defeat.
On X/Twitter he said: 'At city hall for the official results. Thank you to everyone who voted for me and the @LondonLibDems team.”