Sadiq Khan

1.1. Childhood and Education

Khan attended Fircroft Primary School before moving on to Ernest Bevin School, a local comprehensive school. He initially studied science and mathematics at A-level with aspirations of becoming a dentist. However, a teacher, noting his argumentative personality, recommended he pursue law. This suggestion, combined with inspiration from the American television programme L.A. Law, led Khan to change his career path. He subsequently studied law at the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University). After completing his law degree in 1991, Khan took his Law Society finals at the College of Law in Guildford.

3.1. Local Politics and Early Parliamentary Years

Khan began his political journey in local government, serving as a councillor for Wandsworth Council from 1994 to 2006, representing Tooting. Upon his retirement from local politics, he was granted the honorary title of Alderman of Wandsworth.

In 2003, the Tooting Constituency Labour Party opened its parliamentary selection to all interested candidates, including the long-serving incumbent MP, Tom Cox. This led Cox to announce his retirement, and Khan subsequently won the selection contest against five other local candidates. He was elected to Parliament at the 2005 United Kingdom general election, becoming the MP for Tooting.

During his first term as an MP, Khan was a vocal critic of several policies under then-Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. He notably led the successful opposition to Blair's proposal to introduce 90 days' detention without charge for individuals suspected of terrorism offenses. His principled stance earned him the "Newcomer of the Year Award" at the 2005 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards from The Spectator, a right-wing magazine then edited by Boris Johnson. The magazine praised him for the "tough-mindedness and clarity" with which he addressed the complex issues of Islamic terror.

In August 2006, following the arrest of seven terrorists involved in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot, Khan signed an open letter to Tony Blair, published in The Guardian. The letter, co-signed by prominent Muslims, criticized UK foreign policy, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq, arguing that Blair's policies had caused significant harm to civilians in the Middle East and provided "ammunition to extremists who threaten us all." This drew criticism from Labour Home Secretary John Reid, who called it a "dreadful misjudgement," and former Conservative leader Michael Howard, who described it as "a form of blackmail."

In 2007, Khan repaid 500 GBP in expenses related to a newsletter sent to constituents that featured an unduly prominent "Labour rose" logo. While the content was not deemed party political, the logo was found to promote a political party. The rules were retrospectively changed, disallowing the claim, which had previously been approved. There was no suggestion that Khan had deliberately or dishonestly compiled his expense claims.

In February 2008, The Sunday Times reported that a conversation between Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmad, a prisoner accused of terrorism, at Woodhill Prison had been bugged by the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch. This sparked an inquiry by then-Justice Secretary Jack Straw. Concerns were raised that the bugging violated the Wilson Doctrine, which generally prohibits the bugging of MPs. The inquiry concluded that the doctrine did not apply as the monitoring was authorized by a senior police officer, not requiring Home Secretary approval. Following this, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced a policy review and stated that bugging discussions between MPs and their constituents should be banned.

3.2. Ministerial and Shadow Cabinet Roles

When Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister and Labour Party leader in June 2007, Khan's parliamentary career advanced significantly. Brown appointed Khan as a party whip, responsible for ensuring the passage of Labour-sponsored legislation. In July 2008, Khan supported a government proposal to permit the detention of terror suspects for 42 days without charge, a stance that drew criticism from civil liberties advocates like Shami Chakrabarti, who argued he had contravened his principles.

On 3 October 2008, during Brown's Cabinet reshuffle, Khan was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In January 2009, Khan publicly criticized Pope Benedict XVI for rehabilitating Bishop Richard Williamson following his remarks about the Holocaust, describing the move as "highly unsavoury" and of "great concern."

In June 2009, Khan was promoted to Minister of State for Transport. He notably used his Twitter account to self-announce his promotion, believed to be a first for an MP. Although not a full member of the cabinet, he attended meetings for agenda items related to his policy area, becoming the first Muslim to attend the British Cabinet. As Transport Minister, Khan supported plans to expand Heathrow Airport with the addition of a third runway.

During this period, Khan served as chairman of the socialist Fabian Society from 2008 to 2010, remaining on its executive committee. In 2009, he received the Jenny Jeger Award for his book Fairness Not Favours: How to re-connect with British Muslims. In this work, Khan argued that the Labour Party needed to rebuild trust with British Muslims, which he believed had been eroded by the Iraq War. He also asserted that British Muslims had a responsibility to overcome a victim mentality and take greater ownership of their community. In March 2010, Khan publicly declined a pay rise as an MP or Minister for the second consecutive year, stating it was inappropriate given the pay freezes faced by many across the country.

In the 2010 United Kingdom general election, Khan was re-elected as the MP for Tooting, despite a 3.6% swing against the Labour Party. His campaign was reportedly aided by Harris Bokhari, who allegedly leveraged anti-Ahmadiyya sentiment to mobilize Muslim voters at a mosque in Tooting to support Khan over the Liberal Democrat candidate, Nasser Butt, an Ahmadiyya. In 2019, Bokhari was appointed to Khan's new Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Advisory Group.

Following Labour's defeat in the 2010 election, acting leader Harriet Harman appointed Khan as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. Khan played a pivotal role in Ed Miliband's successful campaign to become Labour leader, serving as his campaign manager. Subsequently, Miliband appointed Khan to the senior roles of Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Justice Secretary.

In April 2010, it was revealed that Khan had repaid falsely claimed expenses on two occasions. The first involved letters sent before the 2010 General Election, which were ruled to have the "unintentional effect of promoting his return to office." The second was a 2.55 K GBP repayment for Christmas, Eid, and birthday cards sent to constituents, dating back to 2006. House of Commons rules stipulate that pre-paid envelopes and official stationery can only be used for official parliamentary business. Khan's claim for the greeting cards was initially rejected, but he submitted a new invoice that did not specify the nature of the claim, which was then accepted. Khan attributed the improper claims to "inexperience" and human error, and he apologized for breaching the expenses rules.

In early 2013, Miliband appointed Khan as the Shadow Minister for London, a position he held in addition to his other responsibilities. In December 2013, the Fabian Society published Our London, a collection of essays edited by Khan. He also oversaw Labour's campaign for the 2014 London local elections, which saw the party increase its control in the city, winning 20 of the 32 boroughs. By this point, there was considerable speculation about Khan's potential bid for the London Mayoralty in 2016, as incumbent Mayor Boris Johnson was stepping down. His decision hinged on the outcome of the 2015 United Kingdom general election; a Labour victory would likely lead to a government ministerial role, while a defeat would free him to pursue the Mayoralty. In December 2015, Khan voted against the Cameron government's plans to expand bombing targets against the Islamic State.

Despite polls suggesting Labour could form the largest party in a hung parliament after the 2015 general election, the Conservatives ultimately secured a victory. Khan was re-elected for a third term as MP for Tooting, defeating his Conservative rival by 2,842 votes. He was one of 36 Labour MPs who nominated Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate in the 2015 Labour leadership election, stating he did so to "broaden the debate" but did not vote for Corbyn. He later clarified that he was "no patsy" to Corbyn and would challenge him when necessary.

On 9 May 2016, Khan resigned as an MP by his appointment to the ancient office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of The Three Chiltern Hundreds, a customary practice in the UK. This triggered a by-election in Tooting, which was held on 16 June 2016.

Khan is regularly named among the Top 100 London politicians in the London Evening Standard annual poll of the 1,000 most influential Londoners. He also serves as an Ambassador for Mosaic Network, an initiative established by Prince Charles. In 2023, the New Statesman recognized Khan as the seventeenth most powerful left-wing figure.

4.1. 2016 Mayoral Election and First Term

Following Labour's defeat in the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Sadiq Khan resigned from the Shadow Cabinet and announced his candidacy for the Labour nomination in the 2016 London mayoral election. He quickly garnered support from influential figures across the Labour Party's ideological spectrum, including former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone (from the party's left-wing) and Oona King (from the centrist, Blairite wing). He also received endorsements from key Labour-affiliated unions, GMB and Unite, and the nomination of 44 out of Labour's 73 parliamentary constituent parties in London, establishing him as a leading contender.

Khan's main opponent in the mayoral election was the Conservative candidate, Zac Goldsmith. Khan characterized Goldsmith as a "spoiled dilettante" who "never finishes anything he starts." Despite a YouGov poll for LBC suggesting that another Labour contender, Tessa Jowell, would defeat Goldsmith while Khan would not, Khan emphasized his working-class background in hustings, contrasting it with Jowell's wealthier upbringing. He also advocated for significant change in London, subtly implying that Jowell represented too much continuity with the outgoing Boris Johnson administration. In September 2015, Khan was officially announced as the Labour nominee, securing 48,152 votes (58.9%) against Jowell's 35,573 (41.1%). He was the preferred candidate across all three voting categories: Labour Party members, members of affiliated trade unions and organizations, and registered supporters who had paid 3 GBP to vote.

During his campaign, Khan made several key pledges. He vowed to freeze public transport fares in London for four years, a promise he estimated would cost Transport for London (TfL) 452.00 M GBP, though TfL projected the cost to be 1.90 B GBP considering future population growth. While he had previously supported Heathrow expansion, he shifted his stance to oppose it, instead advocating for expansion at Gatwick Airport. He also proposed measures to curb foreign property investors, suggesting a "London living rent" tenure and a not-for-profit lettings agency to reduce high rental costs. Additionally, he called for house building on TfL-owned land, insisting that at least 50% of new constructions should be "genuinely affordable."

The campaign faced challenges, including a YouGov poll revealing that 31% of Londoners felt "uncomfortable" with a Muslim mayor. Khan publicly opposed homophobia and declared "zero tolerance for anti-Semitism." He condemned Islamic extremism and urged the Muslim community to take a leading role in combating it, while also acknowledging the Islamophobia faced by many British Muslims. He aimed to be "the most pro-business mayor ever," engaging with groups like the Federation of Small Businesses and City of London Corporation. The Conservative campaign and several Conservative-aligned newspapers were accused of attempting to link Khan to then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and of portraying him as an apologist or sympathizer for Islamic extremism. International press often highlighted his religious identity, with some right-wing American media outlets reacting with alarm to his election.

Khan ultimately won the election with 57% of the vote, receiving 1.3 million votes, which was the largest personal vote ever achieved by a UK politician at that time. His victory was widely noted as he became the first actively affiliated Muslim to serve as mayor of a major Western capital.

4.2. Re-elections (2021 and 2024)

Following the 2019 United Kingdom general election and the subsequent resignation of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader, there was speculation about whether Sadiq Khan would run in the leadership election. However, he ruled out a bid for the party leadership, stating his absolute preference to seek a second term as Mayor of London.

In the 2021 London mayoral election, Khan was successfully re-elected for his second term, defeating the Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey. He further solidified his political position in the 2024 London mayoral election, where he was re-elected for a third term, defeating Conservative candidate Susan Hall. This victory made him the first London mayor to serve three terms, marking a significant achievement in the city's political history.

4.3. Key Policies and Initiatives

During his terms as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has pursued a wide range of policies and initiatives across various sectors, focusing on improving the quality of life for Londoners, promoting diversity, and addressing key urban challenges.

4.3.2. Diversity and Social Integration

Sadiq Khan has actively promoted diversity and social integration throughout his mayoral terms. In 2016, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Khan used the period to "break down the mystique and suspicion" surrounding Islam in Britain. He organized iftar events at synagogues, churches, and mosques to foster interfaith dialogue and build bridges between communities. He later appeared at a Trafalgar Square celebration of Eid al-Fitr, where he endorsed religious freedom and condemned "criminals who do bad things and use the name of Islam to justify what they do."

Khan has also been a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Following the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, he attended a vigil in Old Compton Street, Soho, vowing to "do everything in [his] power to ensure that LGBT Londoners feel safe in every part of our city." Later that month, he marched in the LGBT Pride London parade.

In June 2020, amidst the George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom, the Statue of Winston Churchill, Parliament Square was defaced with graffiti, including the words "was a racist." In response, Khan controversially ordered the statue to be temporarily covered to protect it from further vandalism. On 9 June 2020, Khan stated his belief that some statues of slavers in London "should be taken down." He subsequently established the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, tasked with reviewing London's public realm landmarks, including statues, street names, monuments, sculptures, and artworks, with the potential for removal. This commission was formed in response to the anti-racist protests that saw the toppling of a Statue of Edward Colston in Bristol and the defacing of other statues across the UK. That same evening, the statue of Robert Milligan, an 18th-century merchant and slave trader, located outside the Museum of London Docklands, was removed by the local authority and the Canal & River Trust. On 11 June 2020, a joint statement from the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust announced that the Statue of Robert Clayton and Statue of Thomas Guy would also be removed from public view, and that they would collaborate with Khan on the matter.

4.3.7. COVID-19 Pandemic Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Sadiq Khan faced criticism from Health Secretary Matt Hancock for closing stations and reducing services on the Tube network, which Hancock believed would lead to overcrowding and endanger key workers. On 17 March 2020, Khan announced that the London Underground would begin operating a reduced service due to the virus, leading to the closure of the Waterloo & City line, several Tube stations, and the Night Tube. From 20 March, 40 Tube stations were closed.

Khan was the first British political leader to advocate for face masks to be worn in public in April 2020. On 22 April, he warned that TfL could run out of funds to pay staff by the end of the month without government intervention. Two days later, TfL announced it would furlough approximately 7,000 employees, about a quarter of its staff, to mitigate a 90% reduction in fare revenues.

On 7 May, Transport for London, which Khan chairs, requested a 2.00 B GBP government bailout to sustain services until September 2020. The deputy mayor for transport, Heidi Alexander, warned that without an agreement, TfL might have to issue a "Section 114 notice," equivalent to a public body declaring bankruptcy. On 14 May, Khan and the UK Government agreed to a 1.60 B GBP emergency funding package to keep Tube and bus services operational. A condition of this bailout was that Khan had to raise TfL fares by 1% above inflation, a measure that went against a pledge he made during his mayoral election campaign. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP publicly attributed the "poor condition of TfL's financial position" to Khan's four years as Mayor.

From 22 June 2020, Khan implemented an increase in the London Congestion Charge from 11.5 GBP to 15 GBP per day. Its operating hours were also extended to 7am - 10pm every day, including weekends. Despite the pandemic, teachers, police officers, firefighters, and transport workers were included in the charge, despite a campaign by the Metropolitan Police Federation to exempt them.

Khan initiated discussions with local leaders in late September 2020 for further restrictions in London and submitted a plan to the central government to curb the worsening outbreak. On 13 October 2020, he called for a "circuit-breaker lockdown" for London, citing advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). This plan was not immediately adopted, with a second national lockdown not introduced until 31 October. In January 2021, he declared a "major incident" in London due to the severe strain on the city's healthcare system, requiring emergency coordination.

According to polling in March 2021, 42% of Londoners believed Khan had handled COVID-19 "well," while 39% thought he handled it "badly." In July 2021, Khan maintained a face mask requirement on London transport, even after the government lifted the nationwide mandate, citing the risk of virus transmission. He later expressed frustration at the subsequent decline in compliance and TfL staff's inability to enforce these rules, stating he would lobby the government to introduce legal backing for the mandate.

8.1. Specific Incidents and Disputes

In 2009, Khan referred to moderate Muslims as "Uncle Toms," a derogatory label for a person of an oppressed minority who is perceived to betray their group to benefit from their oppressors. In 2016, Khan publicly stated, "I regret using the phrase... and I am sorry," explaining that the context was his desire as a Communities Minister to engage with all individuals, including those with differing views.

A notable and ongoing political feud has existed between Khan and former US president Donald Trump since 2016. The dispute began when Khan criticized Trump over his proposed "Muslim ban." Trump subsequently responded by attacking Khan multiple times on Twitter over several years. Shortly before Trump's 2019 state visit to the UK, Khan compared Trump to "European dictators of the 1930s and 40s." Upon arrival, Trump retorted on Twitter by calling Khan a "stone-cold loser."

Khan also faced a public dispute with UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis in October 2023 during the Israel-Hamas war. After Khan called for a ceasefire, Mirvis criticized the stance, stating that "a ceasefire now would be an irresponsible stepping stone to yet more Hamas terrorist brutality." In a later interview, Khan appeared to suggest that the Chief Rabbi's criticisms had an Islamophobic motive, stating, "I'd ask those Jewish people to just pause and reflect on their response to me calling for a ceasefire... what motivated them to come out in the way they did against the Mayor of London, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester - I'll give you a clue, he's not called 'Ahmed Bourani', he's called Andy Burnham, whereas I'm called Sadiq Khan." Khan apologized for these remarks the day after the footage was released, acknowledging that it was unfair to direct his frustration at the Chief Rabbi.

Regarding his parliamentary expenses, Khan had to repay 500 GBP in 2007 for a newsletter sent to constituents that featured an unduly prominent "Labour rose" logo, which was deemed to promote a political party. In April 2010, it was revealed that he had repaid 2.55 K GBP for Christmas, Eid, and birthday cards sent to constituents, dating back to 2006. While initially rejected, a new invoice was submitted that no longer identified the nature of the claim, and it was then accepted. Khan attributed these improper claims to "inexperience" and human error, and he apologized for breaching the expenses rules. In February 2008, a conversation between Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmad, a prisoner accused of terrorism, at Woodhill Prison was reportedly bugged by the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch, leading to an inquiry and a review of policies regarding the monitoring of MPs.

8.2. Public and Political Opposition

Several of Sadiq Khan's policies and political positions have drawn significant public and political opposition. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover all of Greater London, for instance, has faced considerable resistance. Opponents, including some Labour MPs, have raised concerns about its financial impact on residents and small businesses, particularly those with older vehicles, and questioned its overall environmental effectiveness. Conservative MP Paul Scully has specifically challenged the ULEZ charge on Sutton residents, arguing for better public transport alternatives.

The construction of the Silvertown Tunnel under the Thames in Greenwich, which Khan supports to relieve traffic congestion, has also sparked widespread opposition. Environmental groups, the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, some Conservatives, and even some Labour MPs and mayors, oppose the project, arguing it will induce more traffic demand, worsen air quality, and increase car dependency. In a notable vote, the London Labour regional conference called for the tunnel to be scrapped, with 74% voting against it.

Khan''s transport fare policies have also drawn criticism. While he initially pledged to freeze all public transport fares during his 2016 mayoral campaign, he later clarified that this only applied to "single fares" and pay-as-you-go fares, not daily, weekly, or monthly travelcards, leading to accusations of breaking an electoral promise.

His decision to back the expansion of London City Airport was criticized by environmental campaigners, who argued it contradicted his pledge to be London's "greenest ever" mayor.

Concerns about crime rates in London have been a persistent source of criticism during Khan's tenure, particularly regarding the rise in knife and gun crime. While Khan has accepted responsibility as the Police and Crime Commissioner for the city, he has consistently attributed the increases to budgetary cuts imposed by the UK Conservative Government, arguing that crime is a national problem requiring national solutions.

His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic also garnered mixed reactions. He was criticized by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for closing stations and reducing Tube services, which Hancock believed would lead to overcrowding and endanger key workers. The terms of the 1.60 B GBP government bailout for Transport for London (TfL) required Khan to raise TfL fares by 1% above inflation, a measure that went against his mayoral campaign pledge. Furthermore, the increase in the London congestion charge to 15 GBP per day during the pandemic, which included key workers, also faced opposition.

The establishment of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and the subsequent removal of statues linked to the slave trade have generated significant public debate, with some supporting the moves as necessary steps towards racial justice and others criticizing them as attempts to rewrite history or erase heritage.