Sadiq Khan becomes first Muslim mayor of London
LONDON: Opposition Labour lawmaker Sadiq Khan was elected mayor of London with 57 per cent of the vote, final results showed Saturday, making him the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital.
The 45-year-old son of a London bus driver and a seamstress won 1,310,143 votes against 994,614 for his main Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith, 41, the son a wealthy tycoon.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hailed Khan's win over Conservative Zac Goldsmith, after a bitter campaign in which Prime Minister David Cameron sought to link Khan to Islamic extremists.
“Congratulations Sadiq Khan. Can't wait to work with you to create a London that is fair for all!” Corbyn wrote on Twitter ahead of the publication of final results.
After a negative campaign in which Khan was accused by his rival of sympathising with Islamic extremists, the 45-year-old former human rights lawyer promised in his acceptance speech to be a “mayor for all Londoners”.
“This election was not without controversy and I am so proud that London has today chosen hope over fear and unity over division,” he said after the result was declared at City Hall, to applause and cheers from supporters.