Sir Sadiq Khan says he intends to stand again as London mayor – rejecting any suggestions that he will “do a Burnham” and seek to return to Parliament to challenger for the Labour leadership.
Sir Sadiq, asked about the challenge that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, appears to be mounting against Sir Keir Starmer, gave his clearest indication to date of his wish to remain as London mayor.
Asked on LBC radio on Friday whether he planned to run again, he told presenter James O’Brien: “That is my intention.”
He added: “There is no reason I would give this job up for another job in politics. I love what I am doing.
“Londoners have lent me their votes not on one, not on two but on three occasions. As long as I continue to feel I can deliver for this great city of ours, I will carry on being the mayor.”
The next mayoral election is not due until May 2028. Sir Sadiq, who was first elected to City Hall in 2016, is currently in his third term – the first London mayor to do so.
Other than defeat at the ballot box, there is no limit to how long he can remain mayor, should Labour wish him to be the party’s candidate.
Sir Sadiq has previously declined to rule out serving six terms – meaning he would remain mayor until 2040.
He said Mr Burnham, who he described as a “dear friend of mine”, was “raising legitimate concerns he has”.
He added: “I have no intention of leaving this job for another job in politics.”
In 2016, Sir Sadiq became mayor by defeating Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith. He followed this with another victory in 2021, when the Tory candidate was Shaun Bailey.
In 2024, he achieved an historic third term by defeating Tory rival Susan Hall, in the first mayoral election to be held under the “first past the post system”.
The 2028 mayoral election is due to revert to the “supplementary vote” system, under which the top two candidates from the first round of voting go forward to a second round, when second preference votes from people who voted from other candidates are added in.
This is likely to favour Sir Sadiq as, in the past, his total have been “topped up” by second preference votes from many thousands of Lib-Dem and Green voters.
Sir Sadiq, pressed on whether he was “planning to run for a fourth term”, told Mr O’Brien: “I have given no indication that I’m not, so I’m not sure why people are drawing that conclusion [that he will not stand again].
“At this stage [in the mayoral cycle] last time, I had not declared one way or another. I’m not quite clear why people are suddenly drawing conclusions because I have not declared this time.”
Revealed: Sadiq Khan now earns more than Keir Starmer as London mayor's pay rises to £170,000
Nigel Farage: 'Reform UK will take winning London and ousting Sadiq Khan seriously'
Donald Trump launches fresh attack on 'stupid' Sadiq Khan — and says people agree with his criticism
Sadiq Khan received thousands of abusive messages after being re-elected mayor of London
Mayor of London until 2040? Sadiq Khan doesn't rule out serving six terms at City Hall
