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Sadiq Khan officially becomes London mayor - live Sadiq Khan officially becomes London mayor - live
(35 minutes later)
1.09pm BST
13:09
Khan confirms he is stepping down as MP for Tooting
Sadiq Khan is on Sky News now, his first interview since becoming Mayor.
He says he “stepping down as MP for Tooting as soon as possible.” That by-election, where Labour has a slim majority, is expected to be held on June 9, before the EU referendum
Khan says he now has “bigger things to worry about” than Goldsmith’s campaign and it is for the Conservatives to ask themselves why they ran such a “difficult, divisive campaign.”
He says he has had dozens of Muslim parents, aunts and uncles, telling him that they were having second thoughts about encouraging their children to go into politics or civil society, after seeing how he had been targeted.
He says he hopes his campaign is message to British Muslims and other minorities that they should get involved in politics.
Khan does not demand an apology from Cameron, which BBC political editor Faisal Islam pressed him on. He says that is for the prime minister to decide.
Updated
at 1.11pm BST
1.03pm BST
13:03
Stephen Morris
While we wait for the Bristol mayoral results, an independent has already won in the south west.
Sue Mountstevens has hung on to her position as police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset.
Mountstevens has had a difficult term. Nick Gargan, the chief constable she appointed, resigned after Mountstevens concluded that pictures of a sexual nature found on his work phone and other misconduct amounted to an abuse of authority and that he had lost the confidence of the public.
Interesting that an independent can defeat the candidates champions of the main political parties.
12.55pm BST
12:55
Pakistan’s leader of the opposition Bilawal Bhutto, the son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has congratulated Sadiq Khan.
Congratulations @SadiqKhan 4 being elected mayor of London.remember he & I spk @SalmaanTaseer memorial.British Pakistanis need +ve rolemodel
Pakistani media featured the contest prominently in the Saturday papers.
12.45pm BST
12:45
Zac Goldsmith has posted a message for his supporters on his Facebook stage, congratulating his opponent.
12.43pm BST
12:43
Tories call for independent inquiry into Barnet voting blunder
Gareth Bacon, the Conservative leader on the London Assembly, says he believes voting blunders in Barnet may have cost his party votes and affected the distribution of seats on the London-wide assembly lists.
Labour took 12 seats to the Tories’ eight, one short of a majority. Greens took two seats, Liberal Democrats one and Ukip won two, the party’s first since 2004.
Names were missing from polling lists across Barnet, with many turned away from polling stations.
Bacon said there were “serious questions over the London-wide list result and [Barnet council] caused huge delays in the counting process”.
To have voters turned away for any reason is completely unacceptable.
The votes that were unable to be cast could very well have altered the result of the London-wide list allocation.
It is essential that voters have faith in the electoral process and effectively disenfranchising people for three hours on polling day totally undermines this.
We are demanding a full explanation for this abysmal administrative performance. London Elects and Barnet council have had four years to plan for this but they both failed to get it right when it mattered and the voting public has suffered.
I am calling on all parties to back my motion for a full and urgent inquiry so we can establish what caused these catastrophic blunders.
Updated
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12.32pm BST12.32pm BST
12:3212:32
Ian McKellan: Khan's win 'represents a new sort of England'Ian McKellan: Khan's win 'represents a new sort of England'
Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
Sir Ian McKellen, star of the Lord of the Rings and X-Men movie franchises, attended Khan’s signing-in ceremony and has spoken to the Guardian.Sir Ian McKellen, star of the Lord of the Rings and X-Men movie franchises, attended Khan’s signing-in ceremony and has spoken to the Guardian.
I’m just very impressed by the symbolism of the occasion, this one in particular, taking place in a building that Shakespeare knew well in his anniversary year.I’m just very impressed by the symbolism of the occasion, this one in particular, taking place in a building that Shakespeare knew well in his anniversary year.
To have a Muslim mayor seems preferable to me to any alternative regardless of the politics.To have a Muslim mayor seems preferable to me to any alternative regardless of the politics.
I hope it’s an image that will go round the world as representing a new sort of England that’s at peace with itself regardless of race and so on. That’s the beauty of it.I hope it’s an image that will go round the world as representing a new sort of England that’s at peace with itself regardless of race and so on. That’s the beauty of it.
Asked about his view on the Conservative campaign he said: “I didn’t follow it but I’m distressed that it seems to be so negative. Anyway, the outcome was resounding.”Asked about his view on the Conservative campaign he said: “I didn’t follow it but I’m distressed that it seems to be so negative. Anyway, the outcome was resounding.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.33pm BST at 12.57pm BST
12.20pm BST12.20pm BST
12:2012:20
Switching away from London for a short time, here’s my colleague Steven Morris on the battle for the Bristol mayoralty, which will be announced later today. Switching away from London for a short time, here’s my colleague Steven Morris on the battle for the Bristol mayoralty, with the winner to be announced later today.
Counting is under way in the election for a directly-elected mayor in Bristol. The two main candidates are the incumbent, George Ferguson, an independent, and Marvin Rees for Labour. Counting is under way in the election for a directly-elected mayor in the city. The two main candidates are the incumbent, George Ferguson, an independent, and Marvin Rees for Labour.
Ferguson, a charismatic architect, entrepreneur and wearer of bright red trousers, caused something of an upset in 2012 when he won the seat.Ferguson, a charismatic architect, entrepreneur and wearer of bright red trousers, caused something of an upset in 2012 when he won the seat.
In an emotional acceptance speech then he said: “I believe today we voted for a new way of doing things. I don’t see this as a vote for me, I see it as a vote for Bristol.” In an emotional acceptance speech at the time, he said: “I believe today we voted for a new way of doing things. I don’t see this as a vote for me, I see it as a vote for Bristol.”
He said he wanted Bristol to be recognised across the world. “I’m fed up with explaining that Bristol is somewhere near Bath,” he said. He said he wanted Bristol to be recognised across the world. “I’m fed up with explaining that Bristol is somewhere near Bath,” Ferguson said.
He took his oath of office at Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Temple Meads railway station and – taking his lead from the vow of young men of Athens when they became citizens promised: “I shall not leave this city any less but rather greater than I found it.” He took his oath of office at Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Temple Meads railway station and, taking his lead from the vow of young men of Athens when they became citizens, promised: “I shall not leave this city any less but rather greater than I found it.”
Most agree that Ferguson has created a buzz around Bristol. It was the European green capital last year. Ferguson has had audiences with the Pope and Ban Ki-moon. More prosaically, he has created controversial residents’ parking schemes and 20mph zones. Most agree that Ferguson has created a buzz around Bristol. The city was the European green capital last year, and Ferguson has had audiences with the Pope and Ban Ki-moon. He has also created controversial residents’ parking schemes and 20mph zones.
Rees argues that Ferguson has been good for creating a festival atmosphere in Bristol and been good for the well-off but bad for the less fortunate. Rees argues that Ferguson has created a festival atmosphere in Bristol and has been good for the well-off – but that he has been bad for the less fortunate.
He is also interesting character. Rees describes himself as the mixed race son of a white woman. He came into politics via Operation Black Vote. It was a bitter blow for Rees and Labour when he was beaten by Ferguson last time. Also an interesting character, Rees, who is mixed race, came into politics via Operation Black Vote. It was a bitter blow for him and Labour when he was beaten by Ferguson last time.
In an interview with the Guardian at the turn of the year, Rees said he was struck by one particular publicity image for the Green Capital project.In an interview with the Guardian at the turn of the year, Rees said he was struck by one particular publicity image for the Green Capital project.
“It was of a piece of land ripped from the Earth and floating away.” Clinging to the land were some classic Bristol landmarks – including the Clifton suspension bridge.“It was of a piece of land ripped from the Earth and floating away.” Clinging to the land were some classic Bristol landmarks – including the Clifton suspension bridge.
“That encapsulates the problem,” Rees said. “You have this beautiful story that is ascending into the heavens. You imagine the rest of the people looking up wishing they were part of that story. We should find it morally challenging that in many ways there’s a story of Bristol that is racing off over the horizon and leaving people behind.”“That encapsulates the problem,” Rees said. “You have this beautiful story that is ascending into the heavens. You imagine the rest of the people looking up wishing they were part of that story. We should find it morally challenging that in many ways there’s a story of Bristol that is racing off over the horizon and leaving people behind.”
In the final days of the campaign, both Ferguson and Rees accused each other of being the establishment. In the final days of the campaign, both Ferguson and Rees accused each other of being part of the establishment.
Rees said Ferguson was a member of a wealthy elite group that had controlled Bristol for decades.Rees said Ferguson was a member of a wealthy elite group that had controlled Bristol for decades.
Ferguson said Labour was the political establishment in Bristol and suggested that if Rees won power he would put the party before the city.Ferguson said Labour was the political establishment in Bristol and suggested that if Rees won power he would put the party before the city.
Interestingly, Rees flagged up parallels between him and London’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, and said neither would have been able to stand were in not for Labour. Rees pointed out parallels between himself and London’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, and said neither would have been able to stand were in not for Labour.
He said: “I think the Bristol election is important to national Labour. In myself and Sadiq you see evidence of the fact that Labour offers real political change. Look at our backgrounds.He said: “I think the Bristol election is important to national Labour. In myself and Sadiq you see evidence of the fact that Labour offers real political change. Look at our backgrounds.
“Sadiq is the son of a bus driver, I’m the mixed race son of a single white woman who spent time in a refuge. The support of the Labour party has enabled myself and Sadiq to try to become mayors of two world cities. I think that matters politically.”“Sadiq is the son of a bus driver, I’m the mixed race son of a single white woman who spent time in a refuge. The support of the Labour party has enabled myself and Sadiq to try to become mayors of two world cities. I think that matters politically.”
Results are expected around 4pm. Results are expected at about 4pm.
Updated
at 1.12pm BST
12.15pm BST12.15pm BST
12:1512:15
Here’s some snaps from Sadiq Khan’s signing-in ceremony at Southwark cathedral just now. There’s a reception for the new mayor of London in the cathedral courtyard.Here’s some snaps from Sadiq Khan’s signing-in ceremony at Southwark cathedral just now. There’s a reception for the new mayor of London in the cathedral courtyard.
12.10pm BST12.10pm BST
12:1012:10
Suliman Gani, the Tooting imam, has retweeted this now from journalist Yvonne Ridley.Suliman Gani, the Tooting imam, has retweeted this now from journalist Yvonne Ridley.
Tory Michael Fallon has just slandered @sulimanghani on @BBCRadio4 Today show & repeated libel about IS outside of Parliamentary privilegeTory Michael Fallon has just slandered @sulimanghani on @BBCRadio4 Today show & repeated libel about IS outside of Parliamentary privilege
It seems Fallon’s “clarification” will not be enough to stop Gani contacting his lawyers.It seems Fallon’s “clarification” will not be enough to stop Gani contacting his lawyers.
“I’m definitely going to take legal action against him,” Suliman Gani told BuzzFeed today. “You have to. It’s not right. He can’t just get away with saying this.”“I’m definitely going to take legal action against him,” Suliman Gani told BuzzFeed today. “You have to. It’s not right. He can’t just get away with saying this.”
“The most important thing is the retraction of what has been said otherwise I’ll be sitting on this problem forever. I have to do it because who else will help me?”“The most important thing is the retraction of what has been said otherwise I’ll be sitting on this problem forever. I have to do it because who else will help me?”
12.05pm BST12.05pm BST
12:0512:05
Fallon 'clarifies' statement linking imam to IsisFallon 'clarifies' statement linking imam to Isis
Michael Fallon’s spokesman has “clarified” his remarks linking a London imam to Islamic State, an allegation previously made by David Cameron. Suliman Gani said the link was “defamation of the highest order” and had threatened to sue if it was repeated.Michael Fallon’s spokesman has “clarified” his remarks linking a London imam to Islamic State, an allegation previously made by David Cameron. Suliman Gani said the link was “defamation of the highest order” and had threatened to sue if it was repeated.
Fallon’s spokesman, speaking to LBC, said he was quoting the BBC’s Andrew Neil, who also made the connection but later apologised.Fallon’s spokesman, speaking to LBC, said he was quoting the BBC’s Andrew Neil, who also made the connection but later apologised.
This from LBC’s political editor Theo Usherwood.This from LBC’s political editor Theo Usherwood.
A spokesman for Michael Fallon has been in touch: "Michael was quoting Andrew Neil. He was unaware... 1/2A spokesman for Michael Fallon has been in touch: "Michael was quoting Andrew Neil. He was unaware... 1/2
... of the clarification the BBC had issued on Neil's words. He is happy to put the record straight on that." 2/2.... of the clarification the BBC had issued on Neil's words. He is happy to put the record straight on that." 2/2.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.07pm BSTat 12.07pm BST
11.52am BST11.52am BST
11:5211:52
Khan returns to his seat in the front row. Met police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is on the front row too, as is Ed Miliband.Khan returns to his seat in the front row. Met police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is on the front row too, as is Ed Miliband.
Khan has signed the document - I can confirm he's right handed.Khan has signed the document - I can confirm he's right handed.
School pupils from St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate are going to sing now. They’re doing a rendition of James Bay’s Hold Back the River.School pupils from St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate are going to sing now. They’re doing a rendition of James Bay’s Hold Back the River.
My colleague Jamie Grierson says the singing is very good, though it’s not being picked up on the live feed.My colleague Jamie Grierson says the singing is very good, though it’s not being picked up on the live feed.
I can confirm the children are very good.I can confirm the children are very good.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.00pm BSTat 12.00pm BST
11.49am BST11.49am BST
11:4911:49
Khan promises he will always do everything in his power to make the city better, to give all Londoners the chances he has had.Khan promises he will always do everything in his power to make the city better, to give all Londoners the chances he has had.
It’s a brief speech, Khan will now sign the declaration of acceptance of the role of the Mayor of London to formally take on the role.It’s a brief speech, Khan will now sign the declaration of acceptance of the role of the Mayor of London to formally take on the role.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.51am BSTat 11.51am BST
11.47am BST11.47am BST
11:4711:47
Khan is speaking now. He says he is delighted to be at Southwark cathedral, and he deliberately chose the venue to signify how he is there to represent all communities, of all backgrounds.Khan is speaking now. He says he is delighted to be at Southwark cathedral, and he deliberately chose the venue to signify how he is there to represent all communities, of all backgrounds.
“Some of you may not know, I grew up on a council estate, a few miles from here,” he says, to laughs from the crowd (he has used this line before).“Some of you may not know, I grew up on a council estate, a few miles from here,” he says, to laughs from the crowd (he has used this line before).
“I never dreamed I could be Mayor of London.”“I never dreamed I could be Mayor of London.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.03pm BSTat 12.03pm BST
11.45am BST11.45am BST
11:4511:45
Sadiq Khan signs in at Southwark CathedralSadiq Khan signs in at Southwark Cathedral
Baroness Doreen Lawrence is introducing Sadiq Khan. She says she never imagined she would see an ethnic-minority mayor in London in her lifetime. It is a sign the city has chosen hope over fear, she says.Baroness Doreen Lawrence is introducing Sadiq Khan. She says she never imagined she would see an ethnic-minority mayor in London in her lifetime. It is a sign the city has chosen hope over fear, she says.
Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, saying some words of introduction about Sadiq.Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, saying some words of introduction about Sadiq.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.45am BSTat 11.45am BST
11.43am BST
11:43
Miliband: Khan's win sends a message
Jamie Grierson
Taking a seat at the front of the cathedral for the multifaith service was former Labour leader Ed Miliband.Asked about Khan’s victory, he said: “It’s a fantastic win and sends a message all round the world about the kind of place London is.
“Obviously it’s a historic moment to have a first Muslim mayor but it goes beyond that. Sadiq ran a positive campaign about the issues and I think Zac Goldsmith ran a very nasty divisive campaign and I think that has been roundly rejected.
“The Conservative party needs to explain why they ran this campaign against Sadiq, well they ran it because they thought they could win and they lost and the people of London have rejected that campaign and supported Sadiq for all of what he stands for: the passion, the values and who he is.”
Asked whether Khan’s election could be viewed as a wider endorsement of the Labour Party, he said “I’ll let others comment on that. I think the most important thing to say is Sadiq ran a great campaign, obviously supported by Jeremy Corbyn. I think it’s great for London that we’ve got Sadiq as mayor.”
And asked to comment on the wider local elections results, he said: “Today’s a day for celebrating Sadiq.”
Updated
at 11.45am BST
11.39am BST
11:39
My brother ran 'thoughtful, visionary' campaign - Ben Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith’s brother Ben, the London financier and environmentalist, has praised his elder brother’s campaign and says it asked legitimate questions.
He told the Guardian:
I am proud of my brother. He is the most decent, thoughtful, visionary man I know. It is because of his influence that I have grown up an environmentalist.
Of course I’m sad he did not win this election. But fundamentally London is a Labour city. Boris - with the advantage of being a household name at the time - won in 2008 against the backdrop of a long-standing and unpopular Labour government.
My brother was right to ask entirely legitimate questions of Sadiq Khan - a man running for Mayor of London - as to his known past associations with militant Islamists. Jeremy Corbyn is having to answer precisely the same questions.
Those who sought to stifle such debate with disingenuous and scary cries of ‘racism’ were the ones who brought race and religion into this election. Nobody else.
As former Labour peer Alan Sugar has pointed out, Labour has been overrun by ‘militants, Trots, anti-Semites and Islamist sympathisers’. Let’s hope Sadiq can now present an alternative vision for Labour as Mayor of London. I wish him very well.
Proud of my brother today pic.twitter.com/kZq935GzjI
Jemima Goldsmith, Goldsmith’s journalist elder sister who was previously married to cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, was far more critical last night.
Sad that Zac's campaign did not reflect who I know him to be- an eco friendly, independent- minded politician with integrity.
Updated
at 11.57am BST
11.22am BST
11:22
My colleague Jamie Grierson is at Southwark cathedral for Sadiq Khan’s signing-in ceremony.
I'm at Southwark cathedral where @SadiqKhan will formally be sworn in as mayor of London. Lovely day for it. pic.twitter.com/DkpcXPdEN6
There’s a famous face and a old boss there to greet him.
Sadiq Khan was welcomed at Southwark cathedral by Sir Ian McKellen, who will attend the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/X8zxXNJj40
Ed Miliband in da house at Southwark cathedral to watch @SadiqKhan sign in as mayor of London
11.17am BST
11:17
Paul Goodman, the editor of ConHome, says the party must listen to Amin’s warning.
Don't agree with all of it, but CCHQ should take this @Mohammed_Amin critique of @ZacGoldsmith campaign v.seriously https://t.co/ZJwqqKvj6p
11.15am BST
11:15
Aisha Gani, late of this parish, now at Buzzfeed, says she asked Mohammed Amin, chair of the Conservative Muslim forum, for his views on Goldsmith’s campaign many times, but he did not criticise the tactics.
Asked chairman of the conservative Muslim forum on two occasions of his thoughts on the campaign: pic.twitter.com/QBGbSEr14i
In the Conservative Home piece, Amin says he was reluctant to be so forcefully critical in public during the campaign.
As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:7, there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” During the campaign for London Mayor, the media approached me many times regarding Zac Goldsmith’s comments about Sadiq Khan. I emulated a Trappist monk, but now that the election is over, I can remain silent no longer.
11.11am BST
11:11
Chuka Ummuna, the former shadow cabinet minister, says Labour has a lot to lear from Khan’s campaign, his message and his focus.
.@SadiqKhan's campaign > a text book example of how @UKLabour wins elections - https://t.co/dvzOysGxvF
“Sadiq’s thoroughly modern campaign has been pro worker and pro business, united rich and poor, talked to the young and old, and people of all faiths and none,” he wrote. “It engaged with the aspiration all Londoners share to get on and it has embraced the future.”
With Sadiq in City Hall, and a strong team of Labour Assembly Members, Labour won’t be shouting from the sidelines - we will be able to take real action to improve the lives of Londoners, be it tackling the housing crisis, increasing equality or reducing poverty and helping Londoners get on.
That is, after all, what we all came into politics to do.
It is also great to see Londoners reject David Cameron and his Tories’ nasty dog whistle campaign. If you peddle prejudice you will lose, and rightly so.
10.59am BST
10:59
'Zac campaign made Islamist extremist recruitment easier'
Mohammed Amin, chair of the Conservative Muslim Forum, says Goldsmith’s campaign had made it easier for Islamic extremists to recruit in Britain, with impressionable young Muslim having seen a high-profile Muslim candidate subject to such public smears.
Writing on Conservative Home, Amin says he was asked repeatedly to comment on the nature of Goldsmith’s campaign but held his tongue.
Now the election is over, he says he can be “silent no longer.”
ISIS are perpetually seeking to radicalise and recruit young British Muslims to their cause. At the margin, I believe there is a risk that young impressionable British Muslims who witnessed Khan being smeared in this manner will thereby be made more vulnerable to radicalisation than they were before.
He said the attempts to smear Khan by association with Muslim radicals had deeply disturbed Muslims in the Tory party.
It was not just me reading Zac’s messages this way. Every Muslim member of the Conservative Party who has discussed the campaign with me has understood the messages in this way, as have many, probably most, non-Muslim commentators.
Amin said he did vote for Zac, though his wife voted for Khan, but could not bear “to do a single days campaigning for Zac after January, because I was disgusted (I considered milder words, but decided to be frank) with the tone of his campaign and his repeated, and risible, attempts to smear Sadiq Khan.”
The campaign, he said had imperilled attempts to reach Muslim voters and said the US Republican party was a warning of what could be to come if the party did not appeal to minority voters.
The conservative commentator, Tim Montgomerie, has also criticised how the campaign was run, in an article on the website.
It’s a real shame that Londoners never really got to see that Zac. He should have stood up to the Crosby-Textor-Fullbrook dark knight operation. I think he’ll regret for many years to come that he didn’t.
My congratulations to @SadiqKhan on his election as Mayor of London. It will inspire Muslims & other disadvantaged groups around the world.
Updated
at 11.05am BST
10.25am BST
10:25
Here’s Michael Fallon’s exact quote on Sadiq Khan and his association with Suliman Gani, repeating the allegation Gani threatened to sue over. Gani says the allegation is utterly false and defamatory.
These questions are asked during elections. Your own Andrew Neil, on a BBC programme, said of his appearance with Suliman Gani, a supporter of Daesh Islamic State, said you [Khan] appeared with him on a platform nine times.
Updated
at 10.26am BST
9.55am BST
09:55
Sadiq Khan is out and about already this morning, despite the very late night declaration and reports of a raucous victory party last night (though Khan himself does not drink). He’s off to Southwark Cathedral to officially sign in as Mayor at 11.30am.
He’s not moving into his office in City Hall today, however. I just called the mayor’s office to check, and from a technical, legal perspective, he’ll officially start his term from 00.01 on Monday morning.
(Note: I said sworn in earlier, but the ceremony is a signing-in, not a swearing in, according to Khan’s team)
Updated
at 11.13am BST
9.41am BST
09:41
Ahmed Versi, editor of the Muslim News, has told Sky News he believes the mayoral race could have been much closer between Goldsmith and Khan if the campaign had not been so focussed on Khan’s Muslim faith.
It was very unfortunate the Conservative party decided to focus on his faith rather than his policies.
I think there has been a misunderstanding about Sadiq Khan and his associations, he was a human rights lawyer and so he had to represent these people, and sometimes these people were his constituents so he had to represent them.
It was the prime minister who tried to bring out the faith of Sadiq Khan, not Sadiq himself.