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Sadiq Khan has criticized the Conservative party for their inadequate efforts in addressing the issue of housing. He has committed to constructing tens of thousands of new council homes if he is successful in being re-elected as the mayor of London.
On Monday, Mr Khan announced his campaign for a third term as Labour mayor, promising to instigate the “largest push for council house construction in a lifetime” if re-elected.
During his speech at Citizen’s Advice Westminster with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, he promised to construct 40,000 additional council homes in London by 2030, having successfully achieved his previous target of 20,000 homes last year.
Labor controlling both Downing Street and City Hall would accelerate the capital’s progress significantly, according to his statement. He also implied that with the Tories not hindering their efforts, they would be able to go even further.
The mayor promised to provide a unique chance to significantly address London’s housing crisis and put a stop to the travesty of people sleeping on the streets.
The speaker noted that one thing has been consistently ignored by the Conservative government – the severity of this crisis. This was evident when the previous home secretary stated that homelessness is simply a “lifestyle choice,” and last week when the current housing minister implied that housing is never a real issue.
“I am not fooled by the extent of the issue. It has taken decades to become a challenge, but with determination from those in power, it can be conquered.”
in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, held a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
Sir Keir stated that Mr Khan’s accomplishments as the mayor of London were made despite facing opposition from the Conservative government. He emphasized that for eight years, Mr Khan fought for the advancement of London despite facing resistance from a government that hindered progress.
With an upcoming election towards the end of this year, the leader of the Labour party stated: “Just imagine the impact if a Labour mayor was in office in London, collaborating with a Labour government, on how much more we can achieve – at an even quicker rate – for all our communities.”
We are aware that there is a widespread desire for change within the country. This sentiment can be felt everywhere you go. After fourteen years of disappointment, the country is longing for the opportunity to embrace change.
“They are aware that the Conservative Party is incapable of implementing that transformation. Take a moment to observe, is there anything functioning more effectively than it did 14 years ago? The response to that inquiry is negative.”
Sadiq Khan and Keir Starmer recently toured a new council housing development, funded by City Hall, as part of Khan’s re-election campaign launch.
Describing the mayoral election on 2 May as a “two-horse race” and the “closest contest ever” between himself and Conservative candidate Susan Hall, Mr Khan said the vote would “determine whether London’s brightest days are ahead of us or behind us”.
According to the most recent poll from YouGov/Mile End Institute, Mr Khan and the Labour party are in the lead with 49%, while Ms Hall is trailing behind at 24%.
“Do not rely on luck,” he emphasized. “Cast your vote for the desired future of our exceptional city on May 2nd.”
Last week, The Independent published an article in which the mayor of London expressed concerns that changes to voter ID rules and the mayoral voting process may hinder his chances of being re-elected.
In the past, voters had the option to select both a first and second choice for mayor. However, this election will only allow for one vote per person. “This means that choosing a party other than Labour increases the chances of a Tory mayor being elected,” he stated.
Mr Khan expressed concern about the potential consequences of new regulations regarding photo identification, stating that they could negatively affect his chances. He also accused these rules, meant to require an officially approved form of ID, of being a deliberate attempt to decrease voter turnout and putting the election in a precarious position.
According to the analysis, over 900,000 individuals living in London, many of whom are young or from minority communities, may not possess valid identification, resulting in their inability to vote in democratic processes.
In the most recent London Mayoral election, held in 2021, my lead was less than 5% after the initial round of voting. This means we will be facing even closer margins in the future.
More reporting was done by PA.
Source: independent.co.uk
