Sadiq Khan
Politics
AT 54, Sadiq Khan stands as a testament to the
power of perseverance and vision. Londoners
elected him for a historic third term in May 2024.
Khan has not only weathered the political
storms of recent years but has actively shaped
London’s trajectory in the face of challenges.
His journey from the son of a Pakistani immi-
grant bus driver to the mayor of one of the
world’s most vibrant cities illustrates a commit-
ment to public service that transcends politics.
“When I was first elected, I had a huge mess
when I became mayor,” Khan told the GG2
Power List. “We had a bridge over the River
Thames that had spent more than £50 million,
that hadn’t even started. We had water can-
nons we couldn’t use being kept in storage at a
huge cost. We had a Met Police service that was
wholly under resourced, we had a lack of af-
fordable housing. When I became mayor, there
were only three council homes in the pipeline.
Not 3,000 or 300 – three. We’ve turned that into
more than 23,000.”
Khan’s leadership bore fruit in two pivotal
ways. First, he secured a resounding victory in
the mayoral polls, where record numbers of
Londoners turned out to support his vision.
“This wasn’t just about a third term, it was
about a mandate from the people,” he reflected.
“The swing towards us signifies a trust that has
grown over my time in office.” This trust was
not merely rewarded, it was a validation of his
policies, particularly his pioneering initiatives
surrounding clean air, public transport, and af-
fordable housing.
Second, his influence reached its zenith fol-
lowing the general election in July 2024 when a
Labour government took office. The victory
was one which aligned with his goals for Lon-
don. “For the first time in my mayoralty, and
I’ve been mayor for eight and a half years, I can
work with a government that’s on my side,” he
said, highlighting the importance of collabora-
tion in a city that thrives on diversity and inno-
vation. “Rather than one which gets in the way
of progress in London, one that benefits Lon-
don, that benefits our country because the cap-
ital city needs a pro-London government. And
clearly, I’m pleased because my side won.”
Khan’s relationship with Prime Minister Keir
Starmer has played a crucial role in this collab-
orative atmosphere. “Keir and I go back more
than 25 years, we worked together as lawyers,
we know each other,” Khan shared. “That
makes it good for our city, good for our coun-
try. Why? Not because the prime minister is
going to write me a blank cheque because
we’re mates. But because there’s open access. I
can raise with him the challenges our city fac-
es. But also, I can explain too, the opportunities
that our city provides. And I’ll tell you this,
since Keir became prime minister, no member
of the government has slagged off London, and
it’s very different to the previous five prime
ministers I’ve worked with. I’ve worked with
David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson,
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. I’m on my sixth
prime minister, and this is the best by a mile.”
The summit Starmer held in October 2024,
to attract foreign investment, resulted in a stag-
gering £63 billion, directly benefiting London’s
economic landscape, according to the mayor.
“We’ve been working on the last five months
on something called the London Growth Plan,”
he revealed with an infectious optimism which
resonates with Londoners eager for progress.
“We need growth, our city needs growth, our
country needs growth and we’ve been working
with the government, with the private sector,
with businesses small, medium and large to get
growth in our city. More jobs, more well-paid
jobs, more investment from overseas, really, re-
ally important.”
Khan’s role extends beyond politics. He
embodies the aspirations of
a diverse city. His policies,
such as the creation of the
largest clean air zone in
the world, resonante deeply
with underrepresented com-
munities who have long suf-
fered from environmental
injustices. “I think the reason
why most people from all political parties go
into politics is that they want to be change
makers,” said the mayor. “They use the power
of politics to do good, and what we’ve tried to
do over the last eight-and-a-half years is to
transform our city for the better. So, I’m really
proud we’ve got the largest, clean air zone of
any city in the world. Londoners, 10 million,
are breathing cleaner air. Tough, but that’s the
right thing to do. Nobody now would have
dream about reversing those policies.” His
legacy, thus far, is built on the foundation of
accountability, transparency, and service to
every Londoner.
Khan’s commitment to social justice is evi-
dent. “We have a city for the first time in its his-
tory which provides every child that goes to
state primary school with a nutritious free
healthy meal,” Khan said proudly. “There’s in-
dependent research being done which shows
that it’s benefiting families’ finances, leading to
kids behaving better, their being more produc-
tive, better relationship between schools and
the families and all-round better performances.”
Khan’s initiatives have also included
planned investment in youth clubs and major
infrastructure projects, such as Oxford Street.
“This used to be the jewel in UK shopping
crown,” he continued. “It’s now declined. Com-
petition from online shopping, competition
from shopping malls. And so, we’re going to
transform that by pedestrianising it and doing
other exciting things there on Oxford Street.”
Khan’s upbringing as the son of a bus driver
and a seamstress in a working-class neighbour-
hood of South London shaped his worldview
and created a steely determination to create
change. “Look, these tough decisions, they’re
the right thing to do,” he
said. “If you’ve got a vision,
and a north star, you know
where you’re going. And that
also means standing up for
our values. I’m really proud
that whereas the rest of the
country this summer had ri-
ots because of the aftermath
of the horrific murders in Southport, in Lon-
don, this great city came out in and showed
solidarity and allyship when other parts of the
country were having riots, and that’s what be-
ing a Londoner is about. That’s why I’m really
proud. That’s why I’m always standing up for
our values.”
Khan’s tenure has not been without its chal-
lenges. He has faced resistance and criticism,
particularly regarding his policies like the Ultra
Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion. “Tough
decisions are necessary for a cleaner, healthier
London,” he said with no hint of regret. This
policy has been a lightning rod for criticism
from some sectors, particularly those who feel
the financial strain of the changes. Khan re-
mains steadfast. “Nobody now would have
dreamt of reversing those policies,” he said, re-
inforcing his belief in the long-term benefits for
the city. “We’ve transformed the air in our city.
When I became mayor, they told me it’ll take
200 years to bring our air within lawful limits,
GG2 Power List
10
GG2 Power List | 2025
For me work’s
a privilege and
a pleasure
The change maker
London mayor on leadership, challenges, and the city’s bright future
Sadiq Khan with
prime minister
Sir Keir Starmer