While Londoners are expected to go to the polls tomorrow (May 6) to vote for London’s next mayor, candidates today have one last chance to get their messages across to voters.
Final opinion polls ahead of the election confirmed Sadiq Khan as the favorite in the race despite a late surge in support for his conservative rival Shaun Bailey.
The current Mayor of London spent the last day of campaigning in east London, meeting for the first time with candidates for the London Assembly and local councilors in Newham before heading to Waltham Forest where he discussed with locals, business owners and journalists.
Mr Khan discussed his plans to focus on ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ to revitalize London’s economy after the pandemic, as well as plans to tackle violent crime by tackling to causes such as poverty and lack of opportunity.
The Labor candidate also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he hopes, if he wins tomorrow, that the government will “respect the wishes of Londoners” and give him powers that would enable him to implement his overt commitments, such as rent control.
Sadiq Khan spoke with business owners and residents of Waltham Forest today ahead of the election. Credit: PA
Shaun Bailey, meanwhile, was joined this morning by Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi in Kennington as he focused on the issue of tackling knife crime.
Mr Bailey said: ‘As we emerge from the pandemic we cannot return to the record levels of knife crime and high cost of living that Londoners have faced over the past five years. We need a recovery. ”
The Conservative candidate discussed his plans to put more police on the streets and reopen police stations before hitting the threshold for the last time in this campaign.
Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey was joined by Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi in Kennington today. Credit: PA
Green Party candidate Sian Berry spent the last day of the campaign in south London, first discussing her London tenant protection plans with tenants and activists in Lambeth, before revealing a plan aimed at extending the streets from schools to universities and colleges during a visit to Lewisham.
Ms Berry said: “I will not give anyone negative reasons to vote out of fear. Londoners have the chance to vote for something completely positive in this election. We can lower rents, raise living wages, clean our air, and create good green jobs. But we can only do all of this with a real green mayor. ”
Sian Berry visited a low-traffic neighborhood alongside Assembly candidate Caroline Russell and activist Isabelle Clement. Credit: London Green Party
Luisa Porritt, meanwhile, traveled to the Liberal Democrat stronghold of southwest London, where she was joined by her party leader and local MP Sir Ed Davey.
Candidate Lib Dem visited businesses and doorways in Surbiton, where she discussed her plans to reinvent main streets and convert disused offices into homes, making her case the ‘progressive challenger’ to Labor in London.
Ms Porritt said: “London is a vibrant, diverse liberal city. Since inflicting Brexit on us, the Conservatives have missed their chances of winning here. They do not reflect our values. The Tory candidate is miles behind the current mayor and voters are looking for a new Labor challenger in the capital.
Luisa Porritt and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey questioned voters in southwest London today. Credit: PA
Polling stations open at 7 a.m. tomorrow (May 6) and voters can choose a first and second preference for who they want to be mayor of London.
If no candidate obtains 50 percent of the first preference votes, the first two candidates go through a second round where the second voter preference votes are added.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-05 17:02:03
