This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/11/sadiq-khan-labour-london-mayor-candidate-selects-bus-drivers-son-to-take-on-millionaire-old-etionian
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sadiq Khan: Labour selects bus driver's son to take on millionaire old Etonian | Sadiq Khan: Labour selects bus driver's son to take on millionaire old Etonian |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| It was not even particularly close. In the final round of voting, Sadiq Khan beat Tessa Jowell by 59% to 41%. | It was not even particularly close. In the final round of voting, Sadiq Khan beat Tessa Jowell by 59% to 41%. |
| It is a surprise because Jowell, the former culture secretary who oversaw London’s successful 2012 Olympics, and who is widely liked in the party, was the favourite throughout the campaign, according to polls showing the views of Labour supporters in London. | |
| But the Jowell camp started to worry in the early summer when it became clear that enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn was leading to a surge in people signing up to take part, either as new members or registered supporters. | But the Jowell camp started to worry in the early summer when it became clear that enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn was leading to a surge in people signing up to take part, either as new members or registered supporters. |
| Khan is no Corbynite leftwinger, but he was one of the MPs who nominated Corbyn to help get him on the ballot paper and his soft left, Ed Miliband-ite politics are more palatable to the Labour newcomers than Jowell’s. | Khan is no Corbynite leftwinger, but he was one of the MPs who nominated Corbyn to help get him on the ballot paper and his soft left, Ed Miliband-ite politics are more palatable to the Labour newcomers than Jowell’s. |
| For some, Tony Blair and the Iraq war will have been a factor too. Khan did not vote for the war, because he was not elected until 2005, and he has been critical of the war, while Jowell famously once said she would throw herself under a bus for the former prime minister. | For some, Tony Blair and the Iraq war will have been a factor too. Khan did not vote for the war, because he was not elected until 2005, and he has been critical of the war, while Jowell famously once said she would throw herself under a bus for the former prime minister. |
| Related: Sadiq Khan elected as Labour's candidate for mayor of London | Related: Sadiq Khan elected as Labour's candidate for mayor of London |
| Friday’s result will reinforce the impression that Labour’s new selectorate is about to deliver a resounding victory for Corbyn on Saturday. | Friday’s result will reinforce the impression that Labour’s new selectorate is about to deliver a resounding victory for Corbyn on Saturday. |
| But the read across is not exact, as some London Labourites were voting Jowell and Corbyn. In 2010, London Labour voted for David Miliband as leader but for Ken Livingstone as mayoral candidate. | But the read across is not exact, as some London Labourites were voting Jowell and Corbyn. In 2010, London Labour voted for David Miliband as leader but for Ken Livingstone as mayoral candidate. |
| And it would be a mistake to assume that leftishness was the only, or even the main, factor behind Khan’s success. With support from the unions, Khan ran a formidably well organised campaign. | And it would be a mistake to assume that leftishness was the only, or even the main, factor behind Khan’s success. With support from the unions, Khan ran a formidably well organised campaign. |
| Perhaps just as importantly, with the Tory candidate almost certain to be the millionaire old Etonian Zac Goldsmith, many Labour members will have felt that a Muslim bus driver’s son, bought up on a council estate, would have made a better contrast than a white former cabinet minister married to a wealthy lawyer. | Perhaps just as importantly, with the Tory candidate almost certain to be the millionaire old Etonian Zac Goldsmith, many Labour members will have felt that a Muslim bus driver’s son, bought up on a council estate, would have made a better contrast than a white former cabinet minister married to a wealthy lawyer. |