Sadiq Khan has secured another term as mayor of London after winning re-election in a by-elections held last Thursday in several towns in England and Wales. With 43.7 percent support, Khan defeated his rival from the Conservative Party, Susan Hall, receiving 1,088,225 votes compared to Hall’s 811,518.
The voter turnout for this election was 40.5 percent, allowing Khan to secure a historic third term at the helm of the London City Council. The results from the two remaining districts of London have also been made official, confirming the Labour Party’s victory in this election. The Liberal Democratic Party, which is ranked as the third or fourth political party in recent years, had the second-highest number of elected councilors, ahead of the Conservative Party.
According to official partial results, the Labour Party has secured 1,069 council offices and 49 city councils, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party with 519 council offices and 12 city councils, and the Conservative Party with 498 council offices and six city councils. The Green Party and other independent formations have also obtained council seats, with only three town councils yet to announce their results.
Labour has also won in other areas like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. In Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham secured a third consecutive term as incumbent president. These election results are seen as a warning for Conservative MPs and signal a potential shift in power before the general election.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer declared that Conservatives “do not deserve to govern” following their defeat in municipal elections. He believes that Labour’s positive plan for governing has resonated with voters while Conservative leaders have failed to address issues facing UK citizens effectively