Sadiq Khan has swept to victory within the 2021 mayor of London election, comfortably beating out Tory challenger Shaun Bailey.
After two rounds of voting, Khan received with 1,206,034 whole votes to Bailey’s 977,601 votes.
Read extra: Mayor of London election newest: Sadiq Khan opens up five-point lead over Shaun Bailey
The incumbent mayor received the election in a more in-depth race than most pundits anticipated, with Bailey getting essentially the most votes in a number of outer London constituencies that have been anticipated to go to Labour.
Khan’s vote share was down by about one per cent from the 2016 election.
In his victory speech Khan stated that he would “pressure each sinew” to “construct a greater and brighter future for London after the darkish days of the pandemic and to create a greener, fairer and safer metropolis for Londoners”.
“I’ll all the time be a mayor for all Londoners – working to enhance the lives of each single particular person on this metropolis,” he stated.
He additionally addressed Labour’s poor performances in elections over this weekend.
“The outcomes of the elections across the UK present our nation and our metropolis stays deeply divided, the scars of Brexit are but to heal, the crude tradition warfare is pushing us additional aside,” he stated.
“As we now search to confront the enormity of our problem forward and we endeavour to rebuild from this pandemic, we merely should use this second of nationwide restoration to heal these damaging divisions.”
Khan led Bailey in polls by 20+ factors for the previous yr, main many to foretell a landslide.
The race was neck-and-neck throughout the first day of counting, earlier than Khan kicked away to a strong lead as we speak as a sequence of solidly Labour constituencies reported outcomes.
Khan primarily based his marketing campaign round his plans for London’s Covid restoration – together with the creation of recent jobs and abilities centres for younger folks and a marketing campaign to get folks again into central London – whereas additionally touting his socially liberal credentials to London’s progressive-leaning citizens.
He usually attacked the pro-Brexit Bailey for not having “London’s values” in reference to a protracted historical past of socially conservative feedback the Tory candidate has beforehand made on welfare recipients and ethnic minorities.
Bailey, a former social employee, ran as a “powerful on crime” candidate, promising to rent 8,000 extra cops and to extend the Met’s use of random cease and search.
Bailey stated in his speech that all through the lengthy marketing campaign that was delayed by Covid-19 that there was “one feeling that was the identical” – “that was being written off by journalists, pollsters and fellow politicians”.
“I’m proud my marketing campaign was in a position to shine a lightweight on many issues that individuals are being unheard on,” he stated.
Addressing Khan, Bailey stated: “I hope you are taking this chance to focus on the truth that individuals who appear to be me are four-times extra prone to be murdered than individuals who appear to be you.”
Khan’s group lament low turnout in London mayor election
The turnout for the election was 42 per cent – down three per cent from 2016.
Labour was blaming the nearer than anticipated end result on a low turnout, with one celebration supply saying there was “no query we’re seeing important affect from turnout and voters believing they may put a smaller celebration first choice with out influencing the election end result”.
Read extra: Labour’s credibility is hanging by a thread – the defeat in Hartlepool is only the start
It additionally seems that Khan misplaced many first choice votes to Green candidate Sian Berry, who elevated her vote by 2 per cent from 2016.
Khan bought essentially the most votes within the constituencies of North East, Barnet & Camden, Greenwich & Lewisham, Merton & Wandsworth, Enfield & Haringey, City & East and Lambeth & Southwark.
Bailey bought essentially the most votes within the constituencies of West Central, Havering & Redbridge, Ealing & Hillingdon, Bexley & Bromley and Brent & Harrow, Croydon & Sutton and the South West.
A senior London Tory celebration supply informed City A.M. yesterday that Bailey had “acquitted himself very well”.
Bailey, a former social employee and present London Assembly member, got here nearer to beating Khan than the Tory’s 2016 candidate Zac Goldsmith.
“He’s tapped in to what individuals are speaking about – he’s had his ear to the bottom and he’s tapped into one thing in London,” the supply stated.
“He’s been speaking about knife crime, about violent crime the place Sadiq Khan simply retains blaming the federal government for it.
“He’s a vivid star of the celebration and he has so much to provide.”
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Noticeably, Bailey outperformed the Tory London Assembly vote in each constituency bar one – Merton & Wandsworth.
Professor Tony Travers, native politics knowledgeable on the London School of Economics (LSE), informed City A.M. that this indicated Bailey was “extra standard than the Tory celebration in London”.
“I believe possibly his authenticity has come by way of and that folks suppose he’s un-spun,” Travers stated.
He stated that Khan’s camp can be “relieved” that it held on to win and that subsequent time round each events would need to give extra assets to the mayor of London marketing campaign.
Read extra: Tories full tremendous Thursday hat trick as Andy Street retains West Midlands mayoralty
Tory minister for London Paul Scully stated Bailey “defied the same old naysayers, campaigned on the problems that matter to Londoners”.
“That’s why voters turned to him, operating Sadiq Khan shut in what’s wrongly been described as a Labour metropolis,” he tweeted.
