‘In 1945 Londoners rebuilt’: Sadiq Khan says its time ‘once more to renew city’ as he releases re-election message

Sadiq Khan has told Londoners it is their “turn” to renew the capital once more as the pandemic recedes, as he attempts to channel the post-war effort to rebuild the city in 1945.

In his official re-election broadcast for City Hall, the Labour mayor will say the capital has experienced “tough times” over the past 12 months, with many businesses closed and the streets of central London deserted.

But as coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased by the government, Mr Khan, who will face the electorate on 6 May, said: “The spirit that is seeing us through this is the same one that can help create a better future for all Londoners.”

“In 1945 Londoners rebuilt and renewed,” he added. “Working together to build a better and more equal soccer from the ruins of the war. Now it’s our turn. To work together with the same energy and vision to renew London once more.”

In what a source described as an “an emotional and unashamed celebration of London’s liberal metropolitan values”, the election broadcast also shows Mr Khan campaigning for a second referendum on Brexit, attending Pride marches and pictures of an inflatable balloon of Donald Trump flying over London — something he gave the green light to — during the former president’s first visit to Britain.

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“London celebrates our diversity,” he added. “And in the face of extremism and hate, we never bow down.”

His broadcast comes as the latest polls show Mr Khan has a significant lead over his opponents, including the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, Shaun Bailey, who has struggled to gather momentum throughout the campaign. 

According to a recent Opinium poll, Mr Khan is on course for a second term with 53 per cent of the first preference votes, compared with 28 per cent for Mr Bailey. The pollsters added that if the incumbent’s lead holds, he could become the first candidate to win the office that was established in 2000 without going to a second round.

Throughout the campaign, Mr Khan has also sought to present it as a “two horse” race between Labour and the Conservatives, urging the Liberal Democrats to lend him their vote.

Earlier this week, the polling expert professor Sir John Curtice told the Evening Standard the capital had become “a one-party city”, making it “very difficult” for the Conservatives to to win victory in London.“Brexit and the changing ethnic composition has really, really undermined their strength in the city,” he added.

“Nothing is forever but the point is that the Tories are unpopular among young voters, unpopular among Remainers, unpopular among people from an ethnic minority background and unpopular among graduates.”