Sadiq Khan was on Saturday sworn-in as London’s mayor after he won by a record margin to bec-ome the first Muslim to occupy the top post as he hailed his victory as a triumph of “hope over fear and un
Sadiq Khan was on Saturday sworn-in as London’s mayor after he won by a record margin to bec-ome the first Muslim to occupy the top post as he hailed his victory as a triumph of “hope over fear and unity over division.”
Mr Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, beat Conservative Zac Goldsmith with 57 per cent votes — the largest mandate of any British politician in history — marking the return of Labour rule to the UK capital after eight years.
Mr Khan was officially sworn-in as the new mayor of London at a multi-faith ceremony in Southwark Cathedral. The first Muslim mayor of the British capital received a standing ovation as he walked into the hall after he won 1,310,143 votes to beat his nearest Conservative rival Mr Goldsmith.
“Good morning. My name is Sadiq Khan and I’m the mayor of London. I will be a mayor for all Londoners,” he said, before signing his declaration of office.
The 45-year-old is the third person to become the elected mayor of London, after fellow Labour politician Ken Livingstone and Conservative Boris Johnson.
In his victory speech on Friday night at City Hall, his new office, Mr Khan described London as the “greatest city in the world” and said he had never imagined that “someone like me could be elected as mayor of London”.
“Thank you London. London is the greatest city in the world. I am so proud of our city. I am deeply humbled by the hope and trust you have placed in me today. I want every single Londoner to get the opportunities that our city gave to me and my family,” he said.
Making a direct reference to the divisive campaign run by Mr Goldsmith’s team, which has been criticised for its attempts to link Mr Khan with extremist personalities, he said, “This election was not without controversy and I am so proud that London has today chosen hope over fear and unity over division.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had tweeted his congratulations to Mr Khan way before the formal announcement, “Can’t wait to work with you to create a London that is fair for all! #YesWeKhan.”
