London’s First Muslim Mayor Is A Discrimination Fighting, Fillet-Of-Fish Loving Lawyer
All hail the Member for Tooting!
The son of an immigrant bus driver from Pakistan has become London’s first Muslim mayor. Despite a counter-campaign of racism and fear-mongering, Labour’s Sadiq Khan has triumphed over Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith by a landslide 65 percent to 35 percent. He succeeds Boris Johnson – a Tory, who has held the post for eight years – and will stand down as MP for Tooting to take up the role. (Yes, Tooting is a real place!)
Before entering politics, Khan was a top human rights lawyer who fought against racial discrimination. While in parliament, he has voted in favour of same-sex marriage. Another important thing you should know about him: he reportedly courted his wife over a Maccas Fillet-O-Fish. What a guy.
Just a few hours ago, Khan used his victory speech to call for unity after a pretty negative campaign run by his counterpart. “Fear is simply not welcome in our city,” he said.
Start and end of @SadiqKhan‘s victory speech. https://t.co/mBYzPnOR3x #LondonMayor2016https://t.co/nlUywbM5sp
— BBC London Newsroom (@BBCLondonNews) May 7, 2016
Still, the sight of a Muslim mayor was apparently too much for a lovely chap called Paul Golding, the right-wing Britain First candidate, who turned his back during Khan’s speech. He later denied this was racially motivated. “I didn’t turn my back around because he’s Asian,” he said. “I turned my back on his because he’s a vile man.” Er, yep. OK.
Racist Britain First candidate turns back on #SadiqKhan, which is precisely what London did to Britain First. pic.twitter.com/cidLMEQ3Lm
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) May 7, 2016
Throughout the campaign – and backed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron – Goldsmith suggested links between Khan and extremists. Khan described himself as the “Muslim mayor who will be tough on extremism”, slamming his counterpart for pitting “communities against each other”. Even Goldsmith’s sister, the prominent journalist Jemima, criticised her brother’s scaremongering.
Sad that Zac’s campaign did not reflect who I know him to be- an eco friendly, independent- minded politician with integrity.
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 6, 2016
Congratulations to @sadiqkhan-1st Muslim Mayor of London- a city for all cultures, backgrounds & religions. A great example to young Muslims
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 6, 2016
While Khan’s newfound status as the first Muslim mayor of a major European city is something to celebrate, some experts deny that religion played a big part in the election. Some of the issues Khan has pledged to tackle include community policing, air pollution and the city’s housing crisis. “Even if every Muslim in London voted for Sadiq, at least three times more non-Muslims voted for him,” Tony Travers of the London School of Economics told Buzzfeed UK.
Bye-bye Boris, it’s been real.
Lead image: Sadiq Khan/Facebook