Born and raised in Tooting, South West London, Khan’s campaign made much of his humble origin story — he is the son of Pakistani immigrants, grew up on a local council estate and his father worked as a London bus driver. After attending the University of North London, Khan qualified as a solicitor and went on to set up his own successful law firm specialising in human rights cases. He was elected to Wandsworth Borough Council in his 20s before becoming MP for Tooting in 2005. Named "Newcomer of the Year" at the 2005 Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards, he subsequently rose quickly through the ranks of the then-Labour Government, serving as a junior minister for community cohesion (2008-09) and then transport (2009-10).
In Opposition he managed Ed Miliband’s successful campaign for the Labour leadership and served as Shadow Transport Secretary (2010), Shadow Justice Secretary (2010-15) and Shadow Minister for London (2013-15). He masterminded Labour’s successful campaign in the capital at the 2015 General Election (which saw Labour gain 7 parliamentary seats in London despite losing ground in almost every other UK region) and subsequently declared his intention to seek the party’s nomination for the Mayoral election.
His campaign centred on his ambitious plans for housing and transport — including backing a second runway at Gatwick Airport (but not a third at Heathrow). However, there is every reason to expect that Khan’s victory will also be good news for London’s visitor economy and the events sector. On the campaign trail Khan vowed to be to be the most "pro-business Mayor ever" and pledged to "work tirelessly" for the best interests of London businesses. He plans to create a Business Advisory Board — to be “made up of experts, not of political allies” — to provide guidance and insight on policy, and to find the solutions to London’s growth challenges. He also said he would continue to lead trade missions and promote London’s business interests as his predecessor did.
More detail on precisely how the new administration at City Hall will work with the events industry and make the capital a more attractive visitor destination will probably have to wait until the new Mayor reveals who will serve in his senior team. Key appointments will include a Deputy Mayor for Business — responsible for championing the London economy — and new Chair of London & Partners, the inward investment and promotion body for the capital.
Mayor Khan has clearly articulated international ambitions for London — and one of his first acts upon becoming Mayor was to meet with his Parisian counterpart. Khan’s manifesto said: “London needs a passionate advocate, at home and abroad, to make the case for our businesses, for inward investment and tourism, and to ensure that decision makers in Westminster, Brussels and elsewhere hear the voice of Europe’s biggest commercial centre loud and clear. I will champion London industry at home and abroad, making the case for inward investment in our city, and working to attract ever more global business”. Crucially — and in stark contrast to his Eurosceptic Conservative opponent, Zac Goldsmith — he has vowed to campaign to stay in a reformed EU.
The new Mayor’s manifesto also placed a heavy emphasis on London’s digital economy, with an ambition that “London can become a world-leading tech hub” and a vow to “take Tech to the next level”. Policies include establishing a tech talent pipeline, appointing a Chief Digital Officer to oversee growth in the sector and implement an open data strategy and improving the capital’s connectivity and tackling London’s ‘notspots’ by treating digital infrastructure with the same status as other key public utilities.
It is, of course, early days for the new Mayor, and most of the key appointments to his top team at City Hall have yet to be made. But certainly he has got off to a good start — announcing a one-hour ‘hopper’ bus ticket within days of taking office — and looks set to make many changes to how London is run, and shaking up UK politics in the process.
