Sadiq Khan — Mayor of London, the city's first Muslim mayor; former human-rights lawyer and Labour MP for Tooting.
The gist
Sadiq Khan traces his path from a son of Pakistani immigrants raised in a council flat to becoming Mayor of London, crediting his parents' work ethic and his motivation to help the underdog. He defends his record on crime, arguing for a 'public health approach' that pairs tough policing with investment in youth services and mentors, while acknowledging Londoners often don't feel safe. He addresses systemic cultural problems in the Metropolitan Police after cases like Sarah Everard and David Carrick, and the reforms underway. He speaks candidly about the islamophobic abuse and death threats he and his staff receive, his pandemic mental-health struggles, and his clashes with Donald Trump. He closes reflecting on grief for his late father and his belief in being a role model who 'puts down ladders' for others.
Big reveals
- Across the UK a woman is killed at the hands of a man every three days, Khan says.
- Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and killed by a serving police officer using his warrant card; David Carrick was a prolific sex offender for most of his ~20-year police career.
- Khan says he lost confidence in the previous Met commissioner over her failure to grasp the force's cultural problems.
- The Christchurch mosque shooter and the Finsbury Park terrorist both referenced Khan in their material.
- Khan initially refused police protection for a year before his wife and chief of staff insisted he accept it.
- City Hall now has to provide psychological support to staff traumatised by hate mail directed at Khan.
- Khan reveals he suffered with his mental health during the pandemic, stopped shaving and lost his 'mojo'.
- Asked where he failed, Khan refuses to answer honestly because he is 467 days from re-election and the answer could be used against him.
Things worth remembering
- Khan now lives about a mile and a half from where he was born; he grew up in a council flat with eight siblings, ten people in total.
- Khan says he works seven days a week and finds it hard to take downtime or read a book purely for leisure.
- London contributes roughly 42 billion pounds net to the UK Treasury each year, Khan says.
- There have been about 21,000 fewer police officers across the country over the last 12 years due to austerity.
- Khan says his administration paid for 1,300 more officers and aims to grow mentors from 32,000 to 100,000.
- In primary-school classrooms many children raise their hands when asked if they know someone carrying a knife.
- Khan stresses preventing reprisals after terror attacks, citing a turbaned man killed in the US after 9/11.
- Khan realised sport and being around people are part of his mental wellbeing, not just physical fitness.
- London has completed more council homes than any year since the 1930s, Khan claims, though short of his targets.
- Khan's father died on September 4th 2003 when Khan was 33; Khan says he was depressed and never sought help.