Europe

London Mayor Khan slams ‘politics of fear’ at swearing-in ceremony

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Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of the British capital, has condemned Conservative rival’s politics of fear, vowing to represent all Londoners.

Khan, who was sworn in as the UK capital city’s new mayor on Saturday after a battle with Conservative Zac Goldsmith, said, “I’m so proud that London has today chosen hope over fear and unity over division.”

“I’m determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London has ever seen, and to represent every single community and every single part of our city as mayor for Londoners,” he said.

Khan’s rival Goldsmith, the son of a billionaire, had time and again accused the Labour candidate of being too soft on extremism.

With 100 percent of first-preference votes counted on Friday, Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver and a seamstress, scored a resounding victory over Goldsmith in the race for the mayoralty of Britain’s financial center.

Khan won 57 percent of the votes after second preferences were taken into account with Goldsmith receiving 43 percent, according to theGuardian.

Khan, a human rights lawyer before entering politics, says he wants to lower the cost of living in London.

Britons voted on Thursday to elect officials for over 2,700 seats in local councils.

People across the UK headed to the polls to vote in a number of elections for mayors, councilors, assembly members and police commissioners.

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