Voter ID rules could stop me getting re-elected as London mayor, Sadiq Khan claims

Sadiq Khan attacked Conservative rival Susan Hall, claiming that she ‘supported a hard Brexit’

‘I am asking for their help so that we don’t wake up in six weeks’ time to find our city’s cherished values at serious risk,’ Sadiq Khan writes in The Independent (PA Wire)

Sadiq Khan has warned that new voter ID rules could prevent him from being re-elected as London mayor.

In just six weeks, Londoners will head to the ballot box and vote for who they would like to see running the capital for the next four years.

The latest YouGov/Mile End Institute Poll has Mr Khan and Labour on 49 per cent, with his closest rival, Conservative candidate Susan Hall, trailing far behind on 24 per cent.

Despite his commanding lead, Mr Khan writes in The Independent that changes to the mayoral voting system could scupper his chances of re-election on 2 May.

In previous mayoral elections voters could make a first and second choice for mayor, however this time they will only get one vote.

Mr Khan writes: “This means a vote for any party other than Labour only makes it more likely that Londoners end up with a Tory mayor.”

Londoners will head to the ballot box in just six weeks (Reuters)

The mayor of London also warned that fresh rules on photographic ID could negatively impact his poll chances.

He said: “New rules making it compulsory to have an approved form of ID - a deliberate attempt to reduce turnout - also puts the election on a knife-edge.

“Analysis shows more than 900,000 Londoners - likely to include large numbers of young people and those from minority communities - might not have valid ID and will thus be barred from exercising their democratic right to vote.

“At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than 5 per cent ahead after the first round of voting. These are the finer margins we’ll now be dealing with.”

Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall (PA Wire)

Mr Khan has urged supporters of rival progressive parties, such as the Green Party and Liberal Democrats, to back him to keep the Tories out of power in the capital.

He added: “I am asking for their help so that we don’t wake up in six weeks’ time to find our city’s cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.

“I’ve always stood up for London’s open, outward-looking, pro-European and anti-racist values – as well as for climate science, women’s rights, our diversity, our LGBT+ community, and liberal democracy.”

Mr Khan went on to attack his main rival Ms Hall, claiming that she “supported a hard Brexit” and voted against his initiatives to deal with air pollution and climate change.

He added: “We must protect the gains we’ve made and the modern, plural, inclusive outlook that makes London the greatest city in the world.

“But to do that, I’m asking Lib Dems and Greens to lend me their votes, using their first and only choice at this election. This is the only way we can safeguard everything that makes London so special and continue building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.”