Voter ID rules could stop me getting elected as London mayor, Sadiq Khan claims

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Sadiq Khan has warned that new voter ID rules could forestall him from being re-elected as London mayor.

In simply six weeks, Londoners will head to the poll field and vote for who they wish to see operating the capital for the subsequent 4 years.

The newest YouGov/Mile End Institute Poll has Mr Khan with a considerable lead of 49 per cent in comparison with his closest rival, Conservative Susan Hall on 24 per cent.

Despite the commanding lead, Mr Khan writes in The Independent that modifications to the voting system to pick the mayor and rules which means it’s a must to deliver an permitted type of ID to vote could scupper his probabilities of re-election on 2 May.

In earlier mayoral elections you’ll be capable to get a primary and second alternative for mayor, nevertheless this time you’ll solely get one vote.

Mr Khan writes: “This means a vote for any party other than Labour only makes it more likely that Londoners end up with a Tory mayor.”

The mayor of London additionally warned that recent rules on photographic ID could negatively affect his ballot possibilities.

He mentioned: “New rules making it compulsory to have an approved form of ID – a deliberate attempt to reduce turnout – also puts the election on a knife-edge.

“Analysis shows more than 900,000 Londoners – likely to include large numbers of young people and those from minority communities – might not have valid ID and will thus be barred from exercising their democratic right to vote.

“At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than five per cent ahead after the first round of voting. These are the finer margins we’ll now be dealing with.”

Mr Khan has urged supporters of rival progressive events, such as the Green Party and Liberal Democrats, to again him to maintain the Tories out of energy within the capital.

He added: “I am asking for their help so that we don’t wake up in six weeks’ time to find our city’s cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.

“I’ve always stood up for London’s open, outward-looking, pro-European and anti-racist values – as well as for climate science, women’s rights, our diversity, our LGBTQI+ community, and liberal democracy.

Mr Khan went on to attack his main rival Ms Hall, claiming that she “supported a hard Brexit” and voted towards his initiatives to cope with air air pollution and local weather change.

He added: “We must protect the gains we’ve made and the modern, plural, inclusive outlook that makes London the greatest city in the world.

“But to do that, I’m asking Lib Dems and Greens to lend me their votes, using their first and only choice at this election. This is the only way we can safeguard everything that makes London so special and continue building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.”