Sadiq Khan has been chosen as Labour’s candidate for the London mayoral election slated for May 2016.
The former shadow justice secretary beat the veteran Blairite candidate and former Olym-pics minister Dame Tessa Jowell and four other candidates to win the party’s nomination on Friday.
The former human rights lawyer won 59 percent of the votes to 41.1 percent received by one-time favourite Dame Tessa.
After the decisive victory, Khan said, “I am deeply humbled that so many Londoners have put their faith in me today. Together, we can change London.”
The son of a Pakistani bus driver will be fighting to replace Conservative mayor Boris Johnson, who will not stand next year.
Conservatives will announce their own candidate later this month. Zac Goldsmith and Syed Kamall are two front runners to get the party’s nomination.
A formidable campaigner, Sadiq Khan will fight to win City Hall back for Labour that has remained eight years out of power in the capital.
Sadiq Khan said he was “overwhelmed and humbled” to be chosen as the Labour candidate as he gave his victory speech at the Royal Festival Hall in central London.
“I am determined to repay your faith by winning the mayoral elections next May and making a real difference to Londoners’ lives,” said the former shadow minister for London.
The South London area of Tooting MP was ahead in each of the five rounds of Labour’s alternative vote electoral system where voters rank the candidates in order of preference.
He could not secure over 50 percent vote in first round, having garnered 37.5 percent of the ballots.
He was eventually confirmed after winning 59 percent in the final round – polling 48,152 votes to Tessa Jowell’s 33,573.
Other candidates were Diane Abbot MP of Hackney, David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, Christian Wolmar, the transport writer and activist, and Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West.