To ask if it's a good thing that London has a Muslim mayor

[DoesFlossfloss]

Because my London based in-laws are not happy and I've not been following the campaign as I'm not in London so don't really care. However, we're seeing PILs this weekend and it will be up for discussion.

And I dint like him but agree, as long as it isn't goldsmith who ran a horrible campaign.

I am massively pleased about this. Once the dust settles on condemning Zac maybe people should start thinking a bit about what DC was doing for 30 minutes of PMQs this week fomenting racial division. He was giving the impression to the watching World that the UK is some sort of xenophobic cesspit. London has firmly said not in our name and I in Scotland firmly agree

Yyyy

And all those Tories now crawling out from under various rocks criticising his campaign - now that he's lost. I actually despise Zac more if he was having his strings pulled by Crosby ( knighted today by that other fuckwit Charles) than if he believed what he was saying iyswim. He's a busted flush now and I'm sure he won't stand as an MP again. So OP it's a good thing that London hadn't got a racist, spineless, tax dodging, spoiled, entitled git as a Mayor

I think he's absolutely awful. I never liked him when he's been on Question Time and I don't like him now. What we have to look forward to now in London for the next four years is fighting between the Government and the London Mayor.

I expect some people may well regret voting for him when their council tax goes up.

And, as a muslim, what a pity he's not standing up for equality for muslim women, and making a public stand against muslim girls being forced to undergo FGM. He and Nadiya could both do that but they won't.

as if he'd last 5 minutes if he tried to suppress women in London, or to impose Muslim rules - ridiculous to suggest that! do you think people have turned into dumb sheep suddenly?

Oh dear. It's that classic line. I'm not/ they're not racist but.

Not sure how you have got that from OPs comments, but the converse is definetly true within this thread...

I don't like him personally either, Cleo, but tbf with the limited choice of candidates he's not the worst. Isn't he pro Heathrow expansion?
Willing to wait and see before judging but I doubt he'll solve housing crisis - it needs to be the Govt who does that.

Nope, not very happy about it at all. Couldn't give a stuff about his religion but deplore everything about Jeremy Corbyn and most concerned that he's so closely aligned with him. Someone above said that they don't know anyone who voted for Zac - I don't know anyone who didn't apart from my SIL who went for the Women's equality party

Seriously - so what if his female relatives choose to wear the hijab? This is London - the whole point of this city is that it is culturally diverse and that so long as you can do the job, no one gives a crap what religion or race you are. Stop pandering to your PILs' islamophobia and tell them to get a grip!

Closely aligned with Corbyn? I thought Khan was distancing himself as much as possible.

It's not a classic line; its a reply to an unfair accusation. And I doubt they'll be engaging a human rightslawyer but I assume you were just trying to be witty.

Cleo, why do either of them need to make a stand? It's illegal, I would adduce they are against it and they are neither of them religious spokespeople. If they are not actually following Islam then there's no connection anyway. What you're saying a bit like goldsmith targeting groups by their surname which is one reason he listed me off so much.

bolleaux I have just the sausage. And I'll happily insert it for her. Sideways.

I am a Londoner who lives in Mr Goldsmith's constituency and am delighted that Mr Khan has won the election. I am also beyond delighted that Londoners were not swayed by Goldsmith's appallingly prejudiced campaign. As for Sadiq Khan being a muslim, well, he was obviously born to muslim parents and brought up as a muslim. But he voted in favour of same-sex marriage (and received death threats as a result) and appears to be fairly liberal in his views. He was, before entering politics, a human rights lawyer. Do we really think a human rights lawyer is likely to be a dangerous extremist?! I find this a really odd point of view. Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith are both people who have lived in London for some years. The difference between them is that Sadiq Khan (as the son of a bus driver and a successful lawyer) has experienced all sides of London, the rich, the poor, the good and the bad. Zac only knows about growing up in Richmond and being enormously well off. He has been a reasonably good local MP. I think he was totally out of his depth in this contest.

I'm a muslim, I suppose, in that my dad was brought up as one. But he's not religious either. Or maybe I'm a catholic because my mum is one (only she isn't religious at all). Except I am neither of those things. I'm an atheist because I have my own ideas, as I am sure Sadiq Khan does, and I am right behind Sadiq because a liberal sensible intelligent person who happens to be from a background that isn't the norm in terms of politics is exactly what London needs. I don't want another mayor like Boris who has no idea about ordinary people. I am v happy with the result.

*assume not adduce
Don't even know what that means.

I think you should tell your in-laws that there is going to be a special,london-wide tax to put a minaret on top of the GLA building and a ban on pork on the underground.

I'm a bit bewildered what to make of your comment about his wife and daughters not wearing headscarves. It's a bit odd.

He was very happy to state very clearly that he's a feminist.

I'm incredibly pleased he won the election.

I'm also of the opinion that the grey lining is going to be the by-election.

Floss, I think Ambroxide has just given you all the material you need ♥

Couldn't give a stuff about his religion but deplore everything about Jeremy Corbyn and most concerned that he's so closely aligned with him.

Khan and Corbyn wouldn't piss on each other if they were burning. To believe they are "closely aligned" betrays a complete lack of understanding of the Labour Party of the last twenty years. Yes, Khan nominated Corbyn; so did Frank Field, for fuck's sake, and he's basically a Tory (indeed, his views on welfare would put him to the right of much of the Tory party). The "widening the debate" line was clamorously wrong-headed (see Cox and Coyle's mea culpa here) but it's hardly an expression of support (Khan voted for Burnham in the end).

Goodness littlelion poor Katie if that's the wurst that could happen to her.

Seriously, though, if this is for reL, OP, I wish you all the best because your in-laws sound tricky.

My in-laws are delighted - we're an ethnically-diverse family (which is quite a microcosm of London when I think about it) and I don't have to deal with racial or religious intolerance in my domestic life.

I'd find it quite wearing.

It is not your job to try and 'allay their fears' Or whatever.

Either sit quietly and let them witter on or tell them what YOU think.

For those that don't follow the crazed fringes of the cesspit that is the Labour hard left, the reason Khan and Field and others nominated Corbyn was if they had not, there would have been five years of whining from Trots that members were prevented from expressing their democratic rights by the capitalist running dogs of Westminster. But getting Corbyn on the ballot paper, they hoped to see him defeated, and his sub-Militant, sub-1983 politics with him. They didn't reckon on the suicidal virtue signalling "rather be pure in futile opposition than compromise in office" self-indulgence of the Labour Party at large.

Out of interest, are there any guesses for who will put themselves forward for Sadiq's seat?

Sadiq Khan's been all over the place talking about supporting feminism, wanting to close the gendered pay gap, putting more police on transport to prevent sexual harassment.

Out of interest, are there any guesses for who will put themselves forward for Sadiq's seat?

Given it's Tooting, Wolfie Smith would fit right into today's party.

Ken would add to the gaiety of the nations ("I only mentioned Hitler 47 times, I think I got away with it").

And he's not even vaguely aligned with Corbyn. That's just been another tiresome line from the Goldsmith campaign to try to undermine him

You're on form tonight, Rucardian.