Sadiq Khan reiterated that the upcoming mayoral campaign will be “the toughest fight of my political career”, adding: “Never in the history of a London mayoral election has the risk to our city been greater. No,” he warned.
In a 13-minute speech at London’s Labor Party regional conference held at the Leonard Royal Hotel in Tower Hamlets, the Mayor also condemned recent false claims by former Conservative party chairman Lee Anderson, who spoke to Rishi Sunak. “A complete failure,” he said. Susan Hall is the Conservative Party’s candidate for city council and the party’s “most divisive far-right candidate” yet to run for mayor.
Reminding the audience that in 2016, when he first ran for mayor, the Conservative Party was running what he called “a disgraceful campaign against me and against us.” He urged Labor members to resist repeating these tactics, saying: Now more than ever, we need to represent our best values, not our worst fears, as the poison of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia continues to infect our politics. ”
During the 2106 contest, Zak Goldsmith’s unsuccessful campaign focused negatively on Khan’s Islamic faith, drawing widespread criticism, including from some London Conservatives. In his speech, Mr Khan said there was a “concerted and growing attempt by some people” to degrade and humiliate minorities for political and electoral gain.
He urged the audience to be skeptical of polls showing him with a commanding lead over Hall, at the same stage in the last pre-election period in 2021 when the actual result was much closer. He recalled similar findings and accused the Conservatives of unfairly changing the voting system. The traditional supplementary voting system, which gave Londoners a choice of first and second preference, has now been replaced with a preference for posts likely to support Conservative candidates.
Speaking before Khan, the party’s regional director Parleen Sangha anticipated concerns about the mayor’s complacency and made similar points about the deceptiveness of the poll results. , imploring those in attendance to “participate in the campaign every single day,” he told those in attendance, “We’re in the campaign.” “We have to expose this Conservative party for what it is,” he said, and after pitying Mr Khan over false claims made about him over the weekend, he continued, “We stand with you.” received great applause.
In a sign that Labor hopes to not only secure Mr Khan’s victory but also increase its representation in the London parliament, the conference will see contests for seats in the London-Western parliament, which cover each borough. Westminster City Councilor James Small Edwards also spoke. Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.
After mocking Mr Hall for his seemingly false claim that he had been pickpocketed on the London Underground, he told the conference: “We cannot let London do what the Conservatives have done to our country.” Ta.
We will discuss this in more detail in the future.
Dave Hill is the editor and publisher of OnLondon.co.uk. He supports the site and its writers for £5 a month or £50 a year and you get your money’s worth too. Click here for details. Photo: Bond Street Station on the Elizabeth Line.