In a week’s time Londoners will vote on who should be the next Mayor of London. It’s a straight choice between two very different candidates; Labour’s Sadiq Khan or the Conservative Zac Goldsmith.
Sadiq Khan is the man who ran Ed Miliband’s campaign for Leader; who helped to bring about all the anti-business rhetoric that resulted in them losing last year’s election.
Sadiq is also Jeremy Corbyn’s man in this race. Jeremy Corbyn – with his IRA sympathising links, with his questionable positions on almost every major political issue, and the man who tried to ban Narendra Modi visiting the UK – was supported by none other than Sadiq Khan in his bid to be Labour leader.
If these matters weren’t enough to make you question his judgement, then you should also know who Sadiq Khan has shared platforms with. They include a hate-preacher who called for Jews to be drowned in the ocean and for fire throughout the world, and a convicted terrorist who mourned the death of Bin Laden.
The next Mayor of London will not only be in charge of the greatest City in the world, they will also play a leading role in overseeing the Metropolitan Police and its role in countering terrorism. But Sadiq Khan once helped write a guide advising on how to sue the police. Is this the man we really want in charge if the worst should happen?
London needs a Mayor who will unite our city against the very real threats we face - not a Mayor who takes to the stage with extremists to advance his political career. A man who looks to unite communities, not divide them. And I believe Zac Goldsmith is that man.
London needs a Mayor who can work with this Government to keep our economy strong - not a man who backed the most anti-business Labour leader our country has ever seen. London needs a Mayor with an Action Plan to secure the jobs, the homes and the investment our city needs.
Zac’s track record is that of a man of principle. A man willing to stand up for what he believes. That’s why the good people of Richmond not only re-elected him last year; they did so with the largest increase in majority for any sitting MP in the country.
In the last London Mayoral election in 2012, it came down to a few thousand votes. Boris scrapped in for his second term, in part because of support from the British Indian community. And we need to do the same again next week.
Your vote really matters. Let us make this the election in which the British Indian community ensured their voice was heard. In rejection of divisiveness and in support of integration. Make sure you vote, and make sure your friends and family do as well.
Zac is the obvious candidate to take our city forward. And I urge all British Indians to support him on May 5th.
