Labour candidate Sadiq Khan has been elected Mayor of London, beating his Conservative opponent Zac Goldsmith. According to Gianluca Mezzofiore for Mashable, Khan, 45, replaces flamboyant Conservative Boris Johnson after a race characterised by allegations of extremism and racism.
Goldsmith called Khan — who is Muslim — a "radical" and accused him of giving "platforms, oxygen and even cover" to Islamic extremists. His allegations were echoed by prime minister David Cameron in the parliament, during Wednesdays' question time.
The son of a bus driver from Pakistan, Khan is a former human rights lawyer who branded himself "the British Muslim who takes the fight to the extremists." Before the elections, he promised to be "a mayor for all Londoners," urging voters to "choose hope over fear."
A victory for Khan is a bright spot in what looks set to be a grim day for Labour, which has been out of office nationally since 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment