Sadiq Khan has warned Londoners that backing smaller parties at the local elections could pave the way for Nigel Farage to become prime minister, as Labour faces a difficult set of polls.
The Mayor of London launched Labour’s local election campaign in Peckham on Thursday.
He urged voters to stick with his party, which has been accused of taking progressive voters for granted and is predicted to lose a number of councils in the capital.
It comes as Jeremy Corbyn revealed that Your Party would be targeting Labour’s London “heartlands” at the elections on May 7.
The Islington North MP singled out urban areas with large Muslim populations, including Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge, where Your Party will be supporting independent groups that have made significant gains at Labour’s expense in recent years.
Sir Sadiq told the Standard: “This prime minister has learnt the right lessons from the mistakes made with the Iraq war and not entering into the American-Israeli war in Iran.
“It’s this government that after decades finally recognised the state of Palestine, incredibly important, but also joined me in calling for a ceasefire as well.”
He added: “The simple point I’d make is this, if you want to improve your life, your family’s life, your community’s health, the best way to do that is to have a Labour council, working with a Labour mayor and a Labour government.
“Protesting is very important, it’s one of our fundamental rights. Protesting against a Labour council and voting for a smaller party won’t get you better services, won’t get you more support or help with the cost of living crisis.
“What it will mean is it makes it more likely, not less, that Nigel Farage is the next prime minster.”
Labour currently runs 21 of London’s 32 boroughs.
But the party is facing a significant threat from the Greens on the left and Reform UK on the right.
The most recent bombshell poll predicted the reshaping of London’s political map, suggesting Labour could be almost wiped out in the city, losing all but two of its councils.
A poll earlier this year suggested the party’s popularity had hit a new record low in London.
Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn said on Thursday that independent groups were “offering an alternative to the despair of Labour and the division of Reform”.
Tower Hamlets, run by Lutfur Rahman’s Aspire party, is seen as a “beacon council”, the Your Party leader said.
Mr Rahman won the borough back from Labour control in 2022 after serving a five year election ban for engaging in “corrupt and illegal practices” during the 2014 local elections.
Mr Corbyn said: “These elections are the beginning of the fightback against austerity, privatisation and fear.
“All across the country, there will be community independent groups offering an alternative to the despair of Labour and the division of Reform. We are proud to support those candidates and groups standing up for redistribution, inclusion and peace.
“People in power underestimate the power of people at their peril - and arrogance in office always comes back to bite you in the end.”
Mr Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, added: “Labour imposed some of the most severe austerity in the country when they ran Tower Hamlets Council, further impoverishing one of Britain's most deprived areas.
“We've reversed these cruel cuts and made history as the first council to introduce universal free school meals for all primary and secondary pupils, re-establish the Education Maintenance Allowance scrapped by the Tories, and bring back the Winter Fuel Payments, cut by Starmer.”
