Sadiq Khan WINS third term as London mayor after trouncing Tory rival Susan ... trends now
Sadiq Khan is set for a third term as London mayor after trouncing his Tory rival - dashing rumours that he could be ousted by a backlash over ULEZ, crime and Gaza.
The Labour incumbent defeated Susan Hall by more than 11 percentage points, receiving 1,088,225 votes to her 811,518.
Labour sources have hailed the win, insisting Mr Khan had 'done better than anyone could have expected' and gained ground on the Conservatives 'right across London'.
As the declarations were made in the 14 areas, it quickly became clear that Tory hopes of a shock, driven by speculation turnout was down in inner London, were wide of the mark.
The margin is significantly bigger than the 4.7 points he beat Shaun Bailey by at the last contest in 2021. And it will fuel soul-searching within the Conservatives over how they ended up with Ms Hall as the candidate - and why she was unable to capitalise on anger at the mayor's performance.
Sadiq Khan with his wife Saadiya this morning as his bid for a third term as London mayor hangs in the balance
Counting is under way in the London mayor election 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
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 were 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 Keir Starmer insisted this morning he was 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall.
That view was proved right as the declarations began this morning.
Mr Khan won 83,792 votes in Greenwich and Lewisham, one of the first London boroughs to declare its mayoral vote, with Ms Hall on 36,822.
That was equivalent to a 4.5 per cent swing from the Tories to Labour compared to the previous contest in 2021.
In Merton and Wandsworth Mr Khan received 84,725 and Ms Hall 50,976.
That was a 5.1 per cent swing away from the Conservatives.
Mr Khan also recorded commanding leads in the West Central area - by 54,481 to 43,405 for Ms Hall - where Tory candidates have previously triumphed.
