London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s big promise, as he launched his re-election campaign on Monday, was to double his council homes target to 40,000.
He’s hoping to secure an unprecedented third term as mayor, and told Londoners that they had the choice between “chaos and division with the Tories, or unity and hope with Labour”.
His main rival, Conservative candidate Susan Hall, accused Sadiq of “trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes, by pledging a target that mostly consists of existing homes or those already started.”
Mr Khan hinted however that his housing plans go significantly further than just the pledge announced.
He told the Standard that his promise is for “40,000 completed council homes in the next six years, at least.”
At his campaign launch, he was publicly backed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who stressed the benefits of a Labour government and mayor working together, saying their working relationship would “transform so many lives”.
However, Sir Keir refused to support some of Sadiq’s proposed policies, including plans for a freeze on rents in London, and he also failed to explicitly endorse Mr Khan’s ULEZ expansion.
Our Local Democracy Reporter Noah Vickers discusses his interview with Sadiq Khan and Sir Keir Starmer at the mayor's re-election campaign launch on Monday, and some of the key pledges the Labour leader has failed to support.
Noah also considers whether the pair will need to build better synergy together in order to win their respective elections.
You can listen to the full podcast episode above, or alternatively find us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you stream your podcasts.
