If Sadiq Khan, the Labour candidate in London’s mayoral race, gets elected, he will be the first Muslim to lead one of the most important cities of the world, where only one in eight residents adheres to the Islamic faith. But that’s for Londoners to decide – whether to elect him or his closest Conservative rival, Zac Goldsmith. But the fact that Khan is the strong favourite in this election is a testament to the diversity, tolerance and multiculturalism of London. When the rest of the Western world is plumbing the depths of Islamophobia and racial venom, London is shining as an example for others to emulate. This doesn’t sidestep the fact that the mayoral race was actually marked by religious tensions and accusations of racism, but what matters is that most of Londoners have refused to be swayed by such arguments. ‘Muslim Labour candidate, favoured to win, shapes London mayoral race,” said a headline of International New York Times, capturing the spirit of the campaign and its positive consequences for British politics.
Khan is the son of a London bus driver who grew up with seven siblings in a three-bedroom home in public housing. He became a human rights lawyer and then a senior government minister, before rising to the top echelons of the British politics. Interestingly, his rival Goldsmith is the son of a tycoon who inherited a fortune and was educated at Eton College, Britian’s most exclusive school. Both traded accusations at each other. Among other things, Khan was accused of supporting extremism by speaking on the same platform in the past as those who espoused ‘terrorist views’. Even Prime Minister David Cameron has been accused of harping on Khan’s ethnic and religious identity to discredit him.
Sadiq Khan’s meteoric rise also speaks eloquently of the beauty of democracy, how it propels to the top people with political savvy, talent and sangfroid, irrespective of their ethnic, financial and other backgrounds and identities. Politics has always been about communication and the ability to connect with people in the best possible way. Khan’s popularity is evidence of his success on all these parameters.
London mayor’s job is one of the most crucial positions in British politics and Khan’s candidature comes at a time when the West is intensely debating the role of immigrants and Islam in their societies. Khan’s victory, if it happens, can reshape the debate and even help change the narrative, and help burnish the image of a community that has been vilified and stereotyped. It will set an example as a British model, an example of the success of multiculturalism.
If Sadiq Khan, the Labour candidate in London’s mayoral race, gets elected, he will be the first Muslim to lead one of the most important cities of the world, where only one in eight residents adheres to the Islamic faith. But that’s for Londoners to decide – whether to elect him or his closest Conservative rival, Zac Goldsmith. But the fact that Khan is the strong favourite in this election is a testament to the diversity, tolerance and multiculturalism of London. When the rest of the Western world is plumbing the depths of Islamophobia and racial venom, London is shining as an example for others to emulate. This doesn’t sidestep the fact that the mayoral race was actually marked by religious tensions and accusations of racism, but what matters is that most of Londoners have refused to be swayed by such arguments. ‘Muslim Labour candidate, favoured to win, shapes London mayoral race,” said a headline of International New York Times, capturing the spirit of the campaign and its positive consequences for British politics.
Khan is the son of a London bus driver who grew up with seven siblings in a three-bedroom home in public housing. He became a human rights lawyer and then a senior government minister, before rising to the top echelons of the British politics. Interestingly, his rival Goldsmith is the son of a tycoon who inherited a fortune and was educated at Eton College, Britian’s most exclusive school. Both traded accusations at each other. Among other things, Khan was accused of supporting extremism by speaking on the same platform in the past as those who espoused ‘terrorist views’. Even Prime Minister David Cameron has been accused of harping on Khan’s ethnic and religious identity to discredit him.
Sadiq Khan’s meteoric rise also speaks eloquently of the beauty of democracy, how it propels to the top people with political savvy, talent and sangfroid, irrespective of their ethnic, financial and other backgrounds and identities. Politics has always been about communication and the ability to connect with people in the best possible way. Khan’s popularity is evidence of his success on all these parameters.
London mayor’s job is one of the most crucial positions in British politics and Khan’s candidature comes at a time when the West is intensely debating the role of immigrants and Islam in their societies. Khan’s victory, if it happens, can reshape the debate and even help change the narrative, and help burnish the image of a community that has been vilified and stereotyped. It will set an example as a British model, an example of the success of multiculturalism.
