Sadiq Khan has been selected as Labour's candidate for London Mayor. In the final round of voting, Sadiq Khan received 48,152 votes (58.9%) compared to Tessa Jowell at 33,573 votes (41.1%).
On winning the election Sadiq Khan said: "I am deeply humbled to have received the support of tens of thousands of Londoners.
"I am determined to repay that trust by winning the Mayoral election next May, and making a real difference to Londoners lives.
"London gave me and my family huge opportunities. A council house so we could save for a deposit to buy our own home. A secure job for my dad as a bus driver. A great education for me and my siblings, affordable university places and good quality apprenticeships.
"As Mayor I will provide more opportunities for all Londoners.
"My priorities for Londoners are clear. An affordable and secure home to rent or buy. More jobs with higher wages for the lowest paid. Making it easier to set up and run a successful business. Reducing the cost of commuting and making London's environment safer, healthier and less polluted."
From a humble background, Sadiq Khan grew up on a council estate in Tooting with his parents and seven siblings. His dad drove the 44 bus between Tooting and Victoria, and his mum sewed clothes to make ends meet. He was still sleeping in a bunk-bed at home at 24, while he was a trainee lawyer, to save a deposit for a house.
He attended his local state school and went on to study law at university in London. Khan worked as a human rights lawyer for more than a decade, representing people who were discriminated against at work, employees wrongfully sacked, deaths in custody and victims of injustice. He helped run a business with more than 50 employees.
After 12 years as a Councillor in Wandsworth, Sadiq became MP for his home area of Tooting in 2005. In Gordon Brown's Government, he became the first ever Asian and person of Islamic faith to attend Cabinet as Minister for Transport, having previously served as Minister for Communities and Local Government. He served as Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow London Minister during the last Parliament.
One of Khan’s greatest strengths is his back story. He still lives in Tooting with his lawyer wife Saadiya and their two teenage daughters and attends the local mosque. He says he is “very proud” of being Muslim but that like most Londoners, he has multiple identities.
There are no doubts where his sights are now concentrated on Zac Goldsmith, the handsome Tory MP, millionaire environmentalist, who is favourite to win the Conservative candidacy.
Key Advisors
Rajesh Agrawal, Fintech Entrepreneur and Business Adviser to Sadiq Khan told Asian Voice, "I have known Sadiq Khan for many years and I am delighted that he has been selected as Labour’s Mayoral candidate. Sadiq is a true London success story."He grew up on a council estate but through his own hard work rose to become a top human rights lawyer and Britain’s first ever Muslim Cabinet Minister. Sadiq’s background now inspires his political vision for London. He wants all Londoners to have the opportunities he had, but knows this is increasingly unlikely as a result of Tory cuts.
"His clear priorities are building affordable homes, creating jobs with higher wages for the lowest paid, making London the best city in the world to start and run a business, reducing the cost of commuting and improving our city’s environment. Sadiq is a formidable campaigner who will relate to all Londoners and I am confident that he can beat Zac Goldsmith next May."
Manoj Ladwa, who served as the Communications director on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign an year ago, was appointed earlier this year, as the senior adviser to Sadiq Khan for the Mayor of London election. Lawyer by profession, Ladwa in 2014 headed the campaign’s Research, Analysis, and Messaging team in New Delhi working closely with the top BJP leadership and spokespeople to coordinate the national communications strategy.
LSE graduate Manoj is the founder and chief executive of the MLS Chase Group. In 2010 he founded India Inc, a media organisation which includes brands such as the India Investment Journal and India Investment Conclaves. In 2003 he established the London office of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and has served on various trade promotion committees, including those of UKTI and London Chamber of Commerce. He is an accomplished media commentator and is frequently invited to speak at conferences, authoring over 100 articles and publications.
Ladwa is also founder member and was the first President of National Hindu Students Forum UK, founder Trustee of volunteering charity SEWA Day. He is the chairman of the Labour Community Engagement Forum and campaigns actively within the Labour Party and outside on various community issues and strives for better political representation for people of Indian origin in the UK.
Khan's key policies include:
Housing
Sadiq promises to take personal charge of making it cheaper and easier to rent or buy a home in London. He wants to set up a New Homes Team in City Hall to drive the building of genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy, and create a new ‘London Living Rent’ - with rents set at a third of local income. He also wants to ensure that at least half of all new homes built by developers are genuinely affordable.
Low pay
The living wage in London will be raised to £10 an hour next year – and only companies paying the Living Wage will be able to win big public contracts within the Mayor’s control. He promises to set up a new 'economic fairness' team in city hall to work with the public and private sector to deliver higher wages and better pay and conditions - including more apprenticeships and free childcare.
Business
Sadiq promises to make London the best city in the world, to start and run a business. He wants to plan and provide the infrastructure our businesses need to flourish and establish 'Skills for Londoners', working with London's businesses to provide a workforce with the skills needed for future growth. He also aims to work with the private sector to increase London's connectivity with super-fast broadband and town centre WiFi.
Transport
He promises to freeze tube and train fares until 2020, cut bus fares by introducing a new one hour ticket, and make cycling easier and safer.
Environment
He aims to improve London’s environment and make our air less polluted. He wants to oppose a third runway at Heathrow, ban fracking in London, pedestrianise Oxford Street and introduce a new ultra low emissions zone.
