Sadiq Khan pulls ahead in early London mayor results despite rumours Tory Susan ... trends now
Sadiq Khan pulled ahead in early results for the London mayor election today despite rumours he could be in trouble.
Votes are being counted in the capital after Labour insiders were spooked by rumours that Tory candidate Susan Hall could pull off a shock.
Figures from Merton and Wandsworth and Greenwich and Lewisham suggest that Mr Khan has seen a swing towards him from Conservative voters - although there is a long way to go.
Polls in the run up to the ballot on Thursday had shown Mr Khan with a comfortable lead of between 10 and 22 points.
However, jitters started spreading through Labour circles yesterday over a spike in turnout in outer London - typically dominated by Conservative voters and where anger about the ULEZ expansion has been most fierce.
Supporters of Mr Khan are worried that he could have been damaged by a wider trend of Muslim voters shunning Labour over Keir Starmer's strong support for Israel.
But Labour aides were said to be 'looking confident' at the count this morning. And on a visit to Mansfield Sir Keir insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall.
Official turnout figures last night suggested it had been higher in outer London and lower in inner London - Mr Khan's normal stronghold.
Sadiq Khan with his wife Saadiya this morning as his bid for a third term as London mayor hangs in the balance
The count taking place at the ExCel centre in London today
Polls ahead of the election suggested that the incumbent was on track for a comfortable victory over Tory rival Susan Hall (pictured)
On a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall
The final surveys gave Mr Khan a lead of between 10 and 22 points
The row over the expansion of the £12.50-a-day ULEZ charge was previously credited with helping the Tories to cling on in the Uxbridge by-election, although Mr Khan's team had hoped the fallout was dissipating.
Mr Khan was one of the first Labour politicians to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but Sir
