Sadiq Khan on Tuesday warned his supporters that there was “every chance the Tories could win in London” as the countdown to the mayoral election hit 100 days.
The Labour Mayor and his Conservative rival Susan Hall traded barbs as Mr Khan claimed that changes to the voting system could make it easier for her to secure victory, despite polls suggesting that he is well on course for a record third term.
Ms Hall criticised the Mayor’s record on crime saying: “Londoners deserve so much better.”
It came as Londoners were urged to make sure they were ready to vote, amid concerns that a new requirement for voters to show photo IDs at polling stations on May 2 could effectively disenfranchise many thousands.
The Greater London Authority returning officer warned voters to be ready for a “very different London election” due to changes in the rules, including a switch to traditional “first past the post”.
Mr Khan, who will no longer be able to rely on having his total vote boosted by second preference votes from Green and Lib Dem supporters, said it was “clear that this will be a close two-horse race”.
He said: “With 100 days to go until the mayoral election, the choice couldn’t be starker. The choice is between me or the Tory candidate, who seems to only want to talk down our city and our diversity.
“With the Government introducing voter ID and changing the voting system to favour their candidate, there is every chance the Tories could win in London. So I’m asking Londoners to lend me their vote.”
But Ms Hall warned: “Sadiq Khan has failed to lead our police for eight years and knife crime has spiralled as a result. Over 1,000 people have been killed under his Mayoralty and the Met Police has gone into special measures for the first time in its history. Londoners deserve so much better, and on May 2, I will get a grip of crime and make our streets safe.”
Ms Hall suffered a pummelling yesterday during an LBC radio interview in which she was unable to state the cost of a bus fare, the starting salary of a police officer or which council ran Hammersmith Bridge.
But she is set to renew her attacks on Mr Khan’s record later this week when he faces questions at City Hall about how he unexpectedly found £500 million to part-freeze Tube and bus fares for a year and increase pay for Tube staff to avert a strike.
Ms Hall accused Mr Khan of “trying to buy votes”.
It came as the Mayor faced a broadside from Lib Dem mayoral candidate Rob Blackie on failures to fully staff the Met Police. He said the number of Met police officers had fallen by 308 between April and November last year — meaning that taxpayers’ cash for new officers was going unspent.
“The Metropolitan Police is in crisis, with overall officer numbers falling, despite funding for recruitment being available,” Mr Blackie said.
The switch to first past the post should make voting for Mayor simpler — 114,201 votes were rejected in the 2021 mayoral election, mainly because electors were confused about how to select their first and second choice candidates. The votes will be counted manually for the first time, rather than by machines.
The May 2 poll will also include two ballots for the London Assembly, the 25-member body that scrutinises the Mayor. Voters can choose a constituency member and a “Londonwide” member, to ensure that the make-up of the assembly is proportionate to each party’s support across the capital.
Mayoral candidates have to submit their nomination papers, backed by 10 electors in each of the 33 boroughs and a £10,000 deposit, by March 27.
At least 13 people are thought to be interested in running. These include Green candidate Zoe Garbett, anti-Ulez campaigner and Reform UK candidate Howard Cox and a host of independents including Count Binface. Voters have until April 16 to register.
