Sadiq Khan was sworn-in as mayor of London on Saturday after being elected the first Muslim leader of a major western capital.
The Conservatives had made attempts to link him to extremism during campaign.Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, beat Conservative Zac Goldsmith with 57% votes – the largest mandate for any British politician in history – marking the return of Labour rule to the UK capital after 8 years. Khan was sworn-in as mayor of London at a multi-faith ceremony in Southwark Cathedral.
The first Muslim mayor of the British capital received a standing ovation as he walked into the hall after he won 13,10,143 votes to beat his nearest Conservative rival Goldsmith. “Good morning. My name is Sadiq Khan and I’m the mayor of London. I will be a mayor for all Londoners,” he said, before signing his declaration of office.
The 45-year-old is the third person to become the elected mayor of London, after fellow Labour politician Ken Livingstone and Conservative Boris Johnson.
In his victory speech on Friday night at City Hall, his new office, Khan described London as the “greatest city in the world” and said he had never imagined that “someone like me could be elected as mayor of London”.
“London is the greatest city in the world. I am so proud of our city. I am deeply humbled by the hope and trust you have placed in me today. I want every single Londoner to get the opportunities that our city gave to me and my family,” Khan said. “The opportunities, not just to survive but to thrive,” he added.
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