• THE outcome of the London elections were a stunning endorsement of Sadiq Khan’s bold policies and the extraordinary hard work of our Assembly Member, Anne Clarke.

Sadiq faced a disgraceful barrage of vitriolic abuse and racial hatred. He took it all with calm and dignity.

Two issues really cut through when I knocked on doors. First, that Sadiq’s determination to ensure that children would not go to school hungry. He found the funds to provide meals for 300,000 pupils.

Secondly, that Transport for London fares would be held down, helping people struggling to make ends meet.

Even the ULEZ, ultra low emission zone, policies, so essential to cutting London’s air pollution, were not as unpopular as the Tories had hoped. They banked on a rerun of the noxious policies that won them the by-election in Uxbridge. The strategy was a dismal failure.

People took one look at Susan Hall and thought: “A Tory who endorses Donald Trump and Liz Truss? No thanks!”

It is worth pointing out that Sadiq Khan and Anne Clarke both took support from the Green Party, as well at the Tories.

Sadiq’s vote went up overall by 3.8 per cent, while the Tory share of the vote fell by 2.6. The Green share was also down by 2 per cent when compared with 2021.

The message was clear: if Labour offers voters clear, well-considered, policies it wins their support.

This is not to deny that there were a number of people that I spoke to who were angry that traffic-calming measures were eating into their time, making it hard for them to make deliveries. Or taxi drivers who felt they had not had their concerns heard.

Others were worried about the way Labour’s stand on the Israel-Gaza issue had been presented.
Some were deeply concerned about friends and families caught up in the war, whether they were Muslim or Jewish. We must listen to them.

But the message I heard time and again was: “It’s time for an election!

“Why must we put up with this toxic, worn out, government any more?” And to that I say: bring it on!

MARTIN PLAUT, NW5