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Original poster

Londoners - why don't people like Sadiq Khan?

128 replies

Chicchicchicchiclana · 07/08/2020 20:52

I think he's alright. Certainly an improvement on the previous incumbent!

Can the issues with the congestion charge and removal of free travel for under 18s be laid firmly at his door? If so, how?

Otherwise, I see all these casual references to Sadiq Khan being single handedly responsible for the increase in knife crime and all sorts of other accusations.

Please spell it out for me if you think he is a poor Mayor ... how and why?

OP posts:
gogorogo · 07/08/2020 21:40

I voted for him & am a little disappointed. I don't think he's done anything to tackle knife crime (obvs can't solve it alone). Has he built all the homes he promised? I'm just not sure what he actually has achieved.

RudeAF · 07/08/2020 21:50

Well yes of course adults should walk three stops if able Confused doesn’t help if they aren’t going two or three stops does it. Rush hour travel in London is a nightmare and my personal opinion is that this is part of the problem. If you can’t cope with people having different opinions to you which unlike you they express politely then internet chat sites may not be for you! Providing confirmation of eligibility for free passes due to distance, which I referred to in my first post could be done when the school is allocated.

cologne4711 · 07/08/2020 21:50

I think most of it is race/religion/being Labour/not a Brexiteer.

I also don't see what he can do about knife crime - that's down to the government.

DappledThings · 07/08/2020 21:54

Was a SE Londoner till 2 years ago, voted for him and would again if we were still there. Was pretty popular with anyone I ever discussed him with where I lived.

Only person I've ever seen say anything negative about him on social media was DH's awful step-grandmother, a.k.a Racist Nan

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/08/2020 21:55

Rush hour travel in London is a nightmare and my personal opinion is that this is part of the problem but kids finish school at 3-4pm.
Kids are travelling to school for an education, to penalise them ultimately seems thoroughly unfair.

Providing confirmation of eligibility for free passes due to distance, which I referred to in my first post could be done when the school is allocated but you also said means test ie income.
Even Sadiq Khan pointed out this will just force councils to pick up the tab for disadvantaged children; taking even more Out of local services.

SimonJT · 07/08/2020 21:56

North Londoner, I generally like him.

All of the people I have heard expressing negative views about him dislike him because he is brown, a muslim and not a tory.

gogorogo · 07/08/2020 21:57

didn't he pledge to build 80k a homes a yr? and a London lettings agency?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/08/2020 21:57

The irony is, the only reason Sadiq Khan is liked is because he is not your typical cabinet-esque candidate. If he was Goldsmith in name and race and had “achieved” all he had thus far, everyone would be asking “what’s he achieved”?

FatalDistraction · 07/08/2020 22:00

SadiqK is a total knob. Before anyone accuses me of being prejudice for any reason I’ll tell you that he’s not as big a knob as Zac Goldsmith.

Not sure if you’ve ever seen the panels where the mayor of London is quizzed on what they are doing, a sort of panel. It is bizarre to watch with SC. He’s so arrogant. They literally sit there bemused at his answers. The one I watched had loads of facts on how crime had increased under his management and he actually sat there and said he had the best record on crime. He’s deluded.

SerenityNowwwww · 07/08/2020 22:03

Crime, bikes, anti woman stand.

TinnedPearsForPudding · 07/08/2020 22:06

Sadly, I suspect that racism & Islamophobia plays a part as to why he is disliked

RudeAF · 07/08/2020 22:16

I was definitely keen to see where Rory Stewart’s campaign went before he dropped out.

Totickleamockingbird · 07/08/2020 22:18

Londoners obviously like him enough.

SerenityNowwwww · 07/08/2020 22:19

@TinnedPearsForPudding

Sadly, I suspect that racism & Islamophobia plays a part as to why he is disliked
Nope. Half of my family is Muslim from that part-ish of the world. We don’t like him for real reasons.
roses2 · 07/08/2020 22:22

I find him rather myopic. Implementing short term policies such as fare freezes, hopper fares which have a long term detrimental impact on the ability for tfl to fund future upgrades as he cut their revenue. He talks a lot but does little where it really matters.

1990s · 07/08/2020 22:28

Nope. Half of my family is Muslim from that part-ish of the world. We don’t like him for real reasons.

Fair enough. What are the real reasons?

Iggly · 07/08/2020 22:28

The Tory government have played another blinder by forcing TFL’s arm and making them give up free travel so it can be nicely blamed on Khan.

They did the same with the BBC and feee tv licenses for over 65s.

They did the same with local authorities and austerity.

The same with the police.

What exactly do people expect the Mayor to do about knife crime when his budgets have been cut? Theresa May decimated the police force. David Cameron and his lot carved out a lot of the support structures to provide stability for those who may end up down the path of crime.

Khan can only do so much.

DayKay · 07/08/2020 22:28

Far from a racist myself but I do think he could do more. I don’t think he’s done enough to to tackle knife crime. It’s such a huge issue and we really need more investment in youth services.
I know it’s not just Khan, but we don’t have enough preventative measures in this country and youth services would be a worthwhile investment.
I also don’t think he should get into twitter spats with the likes of Donald Trump. It’s just unprofessional and achieves nothing.

jcurve · 07/08/2020 22:30

He’s been an absolutely pathetic figure during Covid, bleating on about the big bad Tories and offering very little in the way of useful advice or encouraging words for the Londoners he oversees.

Compared to his counterpart de Blasio in New York it’s been a very poor show.

labyrinthloafer · 07/08/2020 22:31

@DayKay

Far from a racist myself but I do think he could do more. I don’t think he’s done enough to to tackle knife crime. It’s such a huge issue and we really need more investment in youth services. I know it’s not just Khan, but we don’t have enough preventative measures in this country and youth services would be a worthwhile investment. I also don’t think he should get into twitter spats with the likes of Donald Trump. It’s just unprofessional and achieves nothing.
Anyone siding with Trump over Khan has political bias imo, Trump was outrageous in some of the things he implied.
jcurve · 07/08/2020 22:33

He also lied about the fare freezes pre-election, giving the impression all types would be frozen.

It transpired post election he only planned to freeze the fares of paper single fares which are really only sold to tourists, not residents who use travelcards.

gogorogo · 07/08/2020 22:35

I would like to see more initiatives around keeping kids in school so they are less likely to fall into crime in the first place. And more youth clubs etc.

sashagabadon · 07/08/2020 22:38

I don't dislike him and don't think he is particualy disliked? I think he'll likely win again as london is a very Labour city but i personally don't find him impressive at all .
He lacks charisma and i think London should have a charismatic mayor. He can also come across as a moaner and a bit negative and glass half empty. He also looks stresses alot and he lacks humour i think.
Ken and also Boris had these postive qualities even though they are politcally opposite, they both represented London well imo .
I was v unhappy with both tfl and sadiq's response in the early days of the pandemic. Half the tube drivers went off "self isolating" and sadiq drastically cut all the tubes leaving them packed. And in response he blamed the commuters!
I quite like sean Bailey, he comes across well in interviews and seems intelligent. He is from a british nigerian background i think. Anyway one to watch.

DayKay · 07/08/2020 22:38

@labyrinthloafer no way would I side with Trump. I think he’s awful but I just don’t see the need for Khan to get into twitter spats with him.
Everyone knows Trump is an idiot and Khan should have remained professional.

sashagabadon · 07/08/2020 22:42

@DayKay

Far from a racist myself but I do think he could do more. I don’t think he’s done enough to to tackle knife crime. It’s such a huge issue and we really need more investment in youth services. I know it’s not just Khan, but we don’t have enough preventative measures in this country and youth services would be a worthwhile investment. I also don’t think he should get into twitter spats with the likes of Donald Trump. It’s just unprofessional and achieves nothing.
Agree with the silly Trump spats. He shouldn't have lowered himself or his position getting involved in that Trump blimp stuff. It was childish , rude and didn't show him/ london as a welcoming city no matter what you think ofTrump. He was invited here and the mayor should put aside personal opinion and be polite. It demeaned his status imo.