UK's Labor Party politician Sadiq Khan elected first Muslim mayor of London

(Xinhua) Updated: 2016-05-07 09:27

Sadiq Khan, Britain's Labor Party candidate for Mayor of London, delivers a speech in London, May 3, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Sadiq Khan, the son of a bus driver, became London's first Muslim mayor on Friday, seeing off a Conservative challenger who attempted to link him to extremism and securing a much-needed victory for his opposition Labor Party.

As New York mayor Bill de Blasio sent his congratulations, Khan had yet to receive official notification of his victory, which would go some way to soothing the wounds of Labor which suffered losses in Thursday's other local elections.

Dealt a crushing blow in Scotland, where it came third behind the Scottish National Party and Britain's ruling Conservatives, Labor did better than expected in England, saving its left-leaning leader from an early challenge.

Zac Goldsmith, Britain's Conservative Party candidate for Mayor of London (R), reacts as Sadiq Khan, Britain's Labor Party candidate for Mayor of London, speaks following his victory in the London mayoral election at City Hall in London, Britain, May 7, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

But the big prize was the London mayor vote, which pitted Khan, 45, who grew up in public housing in inner city London, against Conservative Zac Goldsmith, 41, the son of a billionaire financier.

A source close to the count said Khan could not now be beaten in the race. De Blasio said on Twitter: "Sending congratulations to London's new mayor and fellow affordable housing advocate, @SadiqKhan."

Khan's margin of victory looked set to be narrower than expected in a possible sign that a bitter campaign marred by charges of anti-Semitism and extremism and charges of anti-Semitism in Labor ranks might have taken its toll.

The Labor lawmaker replaces Conservative Boris Johnson, who has run the city of 8.6 million people for eight years. A top campaigner for Britain to leave the EU, Johnson is seen as a contender to succeed David Cameron as party leader and prime minister.

The Conservatives were keen to keep hold of the post, which does not run the City of London financial district but has influence over government in lobbying for the capital. The mayor is responsible for areas such as policing, transport, housing and the environment.

Khan became the capital city's third directly elected mayor, after Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson.