London mayoral election 2024: 'Not as important as a general election’ say Londoners

Next month Londoners will head to their local polling stations to vote in the London mayoral election.

A total of 13 candidates are running for the top job at City Hall, including Sadiq Khan who is hoping to secure a third term as the Labour mayor.

The mayoral election will be held on May 2 and it will be the seventh time Londoners have gone to the polls to elect a mayor.

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

Voters will need photo ID following the introduction of new legislation.

In the last mayoral election in 2021, less than half of Londoners went to the polling stations, with voter turnout at 42%.

We asked Londoners how important they think the mayoral election is, and whether they will even vote.

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Sydenham locals

Jack, a cafe owner in Sydenham, said: “It's very important. It's the easiest way we have our say. Especially for people that find it hard to talk about what they believe in as it's private and it's a good way to express what you want”.

Videographer Daniel said: “I’m currently living between London and Edinburgh so if I’m here in London I will vote in the mayoral election.

“I don’t think a London mayoral election is as important as a general election. I do think it's important and I would vote in it.”

Phil, a Sydenham local, said: “I think it's pretty important but I don’t think one person's vote is going to make a lot of difference. I’ll exercise my right.”

Only three people have served as mayor of London since the role was created at the turn of the millennium.

Labour’s Ken Livingstone was mayor from 2000 to 2008 and Conservative Boris Johnson had the role from 2008 to 2016.

Having been first elected in 2016, Sadiq Khan will hope to win a record third term for Labour when voters go to the polls on May 2.