London Mayoral hustings: Webchat with Sadiq Khan MP, Labour Mayoral candidate, on Monday 25 April at 1pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Sadiq Khan MP, the Labour candidate for London Mayor, on Monday 25 April at 1pm.

Sadiq grew up in South London, where he still lives. After university he worked as a human rights lawyer, and in 2005 became MP for the Tooting. He was the first Muslim to attend Cabinet, serving as Communities minister and later as Transport minister – leading on projects including Crossrail 1.

Sadiq is campaigning “for all Londoners to have the same opportunities he had: affordable housing, decent pay and the chance to get on in life and fulfil their potential”.

Please do join us live on the day or leave a question here on this thread if you can’t make it. And, as ever, please do remember our webchat guidelines; only one question each please (follow-ups allowed if there’s time) and please do be polite.

The London mayoral election will be held on 5 May.

Thanks
MNHQ

One question only please folks - Sadiq's got a lot to get through already. Thanks.

@TresDesolee

Guys guys we haven't asked about biscuits

Sadiq what is your favourite biscuit please thank you

I am pleased you asked as I thought this might come up...

I need to choose between Ursuline High School and Graveney School for my daughter. She has an offer in both places.

Any advice? I need to decide pretty soon.

Julie

Le herbnerb du chocolat

A solid choice

@IWasBeingAffable

Hi Sadiq,

I was wondering if you would like to respond to yesterday's attack from Alan Sugar?

I have been meeting regularly with business leaders, entrepreneurs, start-ups and others over the last few months. I am proud that more than 100 business leaders have publicly endorsed my bid to be Mayor of London. I am the only candidate who has helped run a successful business. I want to be the most pro-business Mayor London has ever had.

It is our businesses who create the jobs, growth and prosperity. I will be the Mayor who helps our businesses flourish and thrive. This is one of the reasons why it's crucial for us to remain in the EU. Peter Mandelson in today's City AM set out the dangers of a London Mayor being in favour of leaving the EU and I agree with what he said.

Our local Mayor is Joe Anderson and he and Boris Johnson appear to clash in every single level. Which Mayor either here in the Uk or abroad do you admire and why?

@Whatthefoxgoingon

Hi Sadiq

What are your views about Zac Goldsmith's claim you will impose a new wealth tax on jewellery? Why was this aimed at the Asian community? The rest of us have jewellery too you know!

I have had an unrelentingly positive campaign throughout and will carry on doing so.

For the avoidance of doubt, can I reassure all Londoners who may be Hindu, Sikh or Tamil - any gold jewellery you have will be safe should I be the Mayor of London!

For those of us who didn't receive this leaflet from Zac we can only wonder why...

@Savour

I need to choose between Ursuline High School and Graveney School for my daughter. She has an offer in both places.

Any advice? I need to decide pretty soon.

Julie

I am a bit biased here Julie. My wife attended Graveney School as do my two daughters now. I think it's a great school but then I would say that wouldn't I!

Hi Sadiq,

One of my main priorities when voting is transport. It's painfully obvious that TfL can't cope with the never-ending increases in population - there are only so many trains that can be put on each tube track per hour, for instance, and ultimately something will have to give.

The only solution I can see is to encourage people on to non-motorised transport. Cycling is an incredibly space-efficient way to transport people, but I know so many people who are too scared to cycle on London's roads - and no one thinks our roads are safe enough for kids to cycle on.

However, the new cycle superhighway along the Embankment is fantastic. It's not even fully open, but there are already families with young children who feel it's safe enough for them to use - see photos. That's what I want to see for London - sustainable transport that's safe enough for every Londoner to use.

I'm really glad to see that in your response to YayaGN you said
"Yaya. I want to make it safer and easier for everyone to cycle in London. I want to build on the progress made by Boris and Ken. We need more segregated cycle lanes and Quietways. We also need to ensure we build into new developments cycle storage. We need to make dangerous junctions safer and try and reduce HGV lorries during rush hour. I want more children to learn cycling proficiency"

Sadiq, what I want to know is, why haven't you committed to the London Cycling Campaign's Sign for Cycling campaign? You clearly agree on two of the points - (1) more safe space for cycling on main roads and at junctions (CS5 is perfect - we can achieve it!) and (2) an end to lorry danger - better lorry design. Is it (3) a Mini Holland for every borough that's the problem in your eyes, or is there another reason why you're not willing to Sign for Cycling? signforcycling.org/#ourVision

Unfortunately, until you Sign for Cycling, I won't feel able to give you my vote - London needs a mayor who's committed to sustainable transport.

Other than the CrossRail 1&2, is there any other project you have in mind to get the commuting better for people who have to work in London but can't afford the house prices here anymore?

@PirateSmile

Our local Mayor is Joe Anderson and he and Boris Johnson appear to clash in every single level. Which Mayor either here in the Uk or abroad do you admire and why?

I have met many mayors from the UK and around the world. I have also studied what others mayors have been doing. Mayors can do a huge amount. I like what Bill De Blasio is dong in New York with his Tech Talent pipeline. My 'Skills for Londoners' will be better! Anne Hidalgo in Paris is doing great work in involving Parisians in decision making. Rahm Emmanuel in Chicago is helping small businesses flourish and thrive.

I am unashamedly pinching the best ideas to be the best possible mayor for the greatest city in the world.

That sounds like a sensible approach. Thanks for the reply and the very best of luck with your campaign.

Thanks for answering my question and glad to hear trying to keep us in the EU will be a priority.

You've got my vote.

@RowanMumsnet

Some questions coming in from Twitter:

From @BermondseyBeat: Will you block the 'Garden Bridge' and give Londoners a practical crossing and not a tourist attraction?

@BermondseyBeat, permission for the Garden Bridge has already been granted. I support the Garden Bridge but there are questions about the procurement process which I will look into as Mayor.

I do think we should look into more river crossings in the East of London. We should also be looking at cycling bridges. I love the cycle snake bridge in Copenhagen.

PirateSmile That was a great question. And a really interesting answer, Sadiq.

@Valentine2

Other than the CrossRail 1&2, is there any other project you have in mind to get the commuting better for people who have to work in London but can't afford the house prices here anymore?

Yes, good question! I'll give you some examples of the other sort of transport projects London needs to meet the demands of a 21st century green city:

1. We have got to make it safer and easier to cycle.
2. We should extend the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham and beyond.
3. The Mayor should have responsibility for commuter trains coming into London.
4. We should look at extending the tram and DLR.
5. We need more river crossings in the East of London with a focus on public transport and cycling.
6. Our buses should be electric or hydrogen only.

I could go on but I have overrun my hour.

Thank you for your interest and all of your questions.

The election is in 10 days time and I am working my socks off to ensure I speak to and listen to as many Londoners and I can. Please feel free to email me on [email protected] if you have any further questions or want to get involved in my campaign.

Really enjoyed that. Thanks, Mumsnet and Sadiq.

How will you ensure labour councils stick to ethnic diversity guidelines and the protection of minority, women's and lbgtq rights especially in areas such as tower Hamlets?

Should say why I liked it:

It really was a breath of fresh air after the strangling effects of the negative campaign. I really liked your positive vision and the fact it is clear you have really thought about what you can bring to the role of Mayor, and how you can deepen/expand it.

Good luck!

For example, I will publish City Hall's first ever Gender Pay Audit.

That was good, but just so we're clear, he has no choice about the above statement. It's going to be law as of next year. Not something to shout about.

I'm an undecided voter so not here to bash him.

Thanks for the detailed response. I absolutely love the idea of separate cycle lanes. Specially around school hours. Thanks

Hey ladyoflondon, he's just signed today! lcc.org.uk/articles/good-news-sadiq-khan-backs-sign-for-cycling. Success! :)

On the whole I thought he did well.

Not sure his answer on business was good: too pre planned.
Also, how does he plan to make the proposed savings in the TFL budget (some of which will be cost intensive) when he is already stretching their budget as is.

YayaGN - saw that about half an hour after I posted here. Fantastic news!