Sir Sadiq Khan has launched a scathing attack on right-wing politicians he says are painting a “dystopian picture of London as a city that’s fallen”.
The London Mayor rounded on Reform and Tory politicians who he claimed “can’t stand what London represents - a city that’s diverse, progressive and thriving, with a Mayor who happens to be a Muslim”.
In a speech to the Fabian Society’s new year conference in central London, he also urged people not to “be afraid to highlight the enormous benefits of immigration”.
Saturday’s speech at the Guildhall steps up a war of words between Sir Sadiq and his fiercest critics, including Reform UK’s mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, whose call for women in London wearing the burka to face being stopped and searched by police sparked controversy.
Ms Cunningham said in an interview for the Standard podcast: “I would look to ban face coverings, if I could, but I would like to make it a reason for stop and search.”
In a separate interview with the Standard, she claimed the “reality” is London is an unsafe city and spoke about a “rape epidemic”.
Sir Sadiq has also faced savage criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Following his state visit to the UK in 2025, Trump told reporters: “I think he's done a terrible job. Crime in London is through the roof."
He also said London “wants to go to sharia law”.
In his speech to the conference, Sir Sadiq said: “The resurgence of far-right populism and nativism means that the idea that we can be diverse, united and prosperous is under threat like never before.
“The White House’s ‘National Security Strategy’ recently made the preposterous claim that Europe is at risk of ‘civilisational erasure.’
“The far-right is spreading the same message in Europe, with the National Rally in France, the AfD in Germany, the PVV in the Netherlands and the Brothers of Italy.
“Over here, Reform and the Tories are dancing to the same tune.
“They paint a dystopian picture of London as a city that’s fallen. And let’s be frank - they do so because they can’t stand what London represents - a city that’s diverse, progressive and thriving, with a Mayor who happens to be a Muslim.
“The fact that this is the greatest city in the world makes a mockery of their entire worldview. So they construct lies, seek to manufacture an enemy, pit citizens against one another for political gain, and stoke fear by blaming ‘the other’ for all of society’s ills.”
He continued: “This rhetoric isn’t just false – it’s cruel, callous and deeply dangerous. That’s why we must fight back against this narrative that diversity is inherently bad for our society, and therefore all immigration is too.”
The Mayor said it was time to “reset the immigration debate” so it is no longer “dictated by the hysteria, hatred and fearmongering”.
Legal migration, he said, “is crucial to the future success of our capital and country”.
Sir Sadiq warned a sharp decrease in net migration in London would make his plan to boost the capital’s economy £107billion by 2035 much harder to deliver, leading to a “major skills shortage”.
