Sadiq Khan says mayoral election is ‘two-horse race’ in call for rival parties' votes

Sadiq Khan has described the upcoming mayoral election as a “two-horse race” as he calls on rival parties to lend him their votes.

The Labour candidate is fighting for his third term as mayor of London, and says the voter ID laws and the voting system will make this election the “closest capital contest yet”.

This year’s mayoral election will be the first time the election uses the first-past-the-post system, replacing the previous 'supplementary vote'.

According to the latest poll, Mr Khan is on track to receive 51%  of the vote, with the Conservatives' Susan Hall trailing on 27%. The poll, conducted by Savanta, had the Lib Dems’ Rob Blackie at 10%, followed by the Green Party’s Zoë Garbett at 8% and Reform UK’s Howard Cox at 2%.

Despite his lead in the polls, Mr Khan is calling on Green and Lib Dem voters to lend him their vote to prevent a Conservative win.

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Speaking at an equine centre in Barnet on Thursday morning, Mr Khan said: 

"The Tories have changed the voting rules in London to make it easier for the Conservative candidate to win. We must not let that happen. The election on May 2 will be a close two-horse race and there is a stark choice. It's between my positive vision to build a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone, or the Tory candidate who would take our city backwards.

 "While the Tory candidate for mayor voted against my initiative to deliver free school meals, I’m proud that we continue to provide free meals to all state primary schools in London, which is saving families over £1,000 per child over two years.

“I can also confirm that a further 10 million free meals will be delivered to Londoners over the coming year, and this includes 670,000 meals over this Easter break alone.  This really shows the difference a Labour mayor can make and what would be put at risk by a Conservative mayor."

Ms Hall said: "Unlike Sadiq Khan, I am listening to Londoners. They are telling me loud and clear that they want more police officers recruited, more affordable family homes built, and both Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion and pay-per-mile plans scrapped on day one. With Londoners' support, I will deliver that on May 2.”

When asked about Mr Khan’s “two-horse race” claim this week, Green candidate Ms Garbett said there was little prospect according to the polls of Tory candidate Ms Hall winning, and it is therefore “really safe to vote Green in this election, and if people want to, they need to be voting with their heart and with their values, and voting for a Green mayor”.

But she admitted that, short of winning, a good result for the Greens would be winning more assembly members, and increasing the party’s vote-share.

Lib Dem candidate Mr Blackie said: “The polling is clear: the Conservatives can't win in London. But Sadiq Khan doesn't deserve to win.

“I will fix the Met, which has been broken by the Mayor and the Conservatives.”

The London mayoral election is on May 2, along with elections to the London Assembly.