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Labour's London Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has defeated Zac Goldsmith. Picture: Getty
SADIQ Khan, the son of a bus driver, has become London’s first Muslim mayor, seeing off Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative challenger who attempted to link him to extremism.
Mr Goldsmith’s campaign was accused of using ‘dog whistle politics’ and coded racism, with his own sister, Jemima Goldsmith, who was married to cricketer Imran Khan, attacking his campaign.
Dealt a crushing blow in Scotland, where it came third behind the Scottish National Party and Britain’s ruling Conservatives, Labour did better than expected in England, saving its left-leaning leader from an early challenge.
But the big prize was the London mayor vote, which pitted Mr Khan, 45, who grew up in public housing in inner city London, against Conservative Mr Goldsmith, 41, the son of a billionaire financier.
British Conservative Party London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith (L) and opposition Labour Party candidate for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (R). Picture: AFPSource:AFP
Mr Khan’s margin of victory looked set to be narrower than expected in a possible sign that a bitter campaign marred by charges of anti-Semitism and extremism and charges of anti-Semitism in Labour ranks might have taken its toll.
The Labour politician replaces Conservative Boris Johnson, who has run the city of 8.6 million people for eight years.
A top campaigner for Britain to leave the EU, Mr Johnson is seen as a contender to succeed David Cameron as party leader and prime minister.
The Conservatives were keen to keep hold of the post, which does not run the City of London financial district but has influence over government in lobbying for the capital.
Britain's Labour Party candidate for London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
The mayor is responsible for areas such as policing, transport, housing and the environment.
Mr Khan, a former human rights lawyer, held his lead in the opinion polls, despite accusations by Mr Goldsmith that he has shared platforms with radical Muslim speakers and given “oxygen†to extremists.
Mr Khan says he has fought extremism all his life and that he regrets sharing a stage with speakers who held “abhorrent†views.
The Labour Party accused Mr Goldsmith and the ruling Conservative Party of smearing Mr Khan.