Sadiq Khan wins Labour London Mayor contest

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has been selected as Labour's candidate for the London mayoral election, the party has announced. And with this victory, the prospect of London – one of the world’s most influential and powerful cities – having a BME mayor.

Sadiq won 48,152 votes, a 58.9% share, in the fifth round of voting after the other candidates had been eliminated.

The former Justice Secretary is likely to oppose Tory front runner Zac Goldsmith in the 2016 London mayoral elections - with recent polls suggesting he could beat Goldsmith.

Our congratulations go to Sadiq, while giving commiserations to Diane Abbott, David Lammy and Tessa Jowell who along with Christian Wolmar, were outstanding at the BME hustings OBV organised at Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton in July. In the results announced today khan won in the final round against Jowell with 59% against her 41% of the vote.

Simon Woolley, Director of Operation Black Vote who chaired the Brixton Labour Mayoral  hustings last month  said:

"This is fantastic news. The possibility of having a BME Mayor in a global city such as London sends a great message about the capital’s multicultural talent.”

Paul Hensby