Sadiq Khan will urge voters not to “let the Tories do to London what they’ve done to our country”, as he hits out at the “hollow, desperate and divisive narrative” put forward by the party.
The London mayor will give a keynote speech at the Fabian’s Society conference on Saturday, where he will criticize the Conservatives for taking advantage of people’s fears without actually addressing them. He will suggest that they try to make the public believe that their struggles are caused by someone else.
According to Khan, the upcoming London mayoral elections in May will be the most challenging one yet. This is because it will be the first time London will implement the first past the post system and enforce a voter ID system. He will discuss this at an event hosted by a left-wing think tank.
“The advancements that London has already achieved and the goals we still need to reach are now in jeopardy… because in just over 100 days, the citizens of London will vote for their choice of mayor,” he will state on Saturday. He also mentioned, “It will be a challenging battle, but one that we must emerge victorious from.”
Khan plans to use the speech as an opportunity to discuss his accomplishments during his time in office. These include implementing universal free school meals for primary students, maintaining the same tube and bus fares until 2025, and improving air quality for all Londoners regardless of their background.
“Let me finish by saying that 2024 offers us the greatest prize of all … a Labour mayor working with a Labour prime minister for the benefit of all.”
Khan pledges that a Labour administration will revitalize the NHS, which has been put on life support by the Conservatives.
“Every primary school in England will have a fully funded breakfast club … the first step toward a childcare system which meets the demands of 21st-century life. And with a ‘new deal for working people’, we’ll agree a fair contract with workers fit for a modern economy,” he will add. “Britain is at its best when Labour is at its best.”
Khan recently revealed intentions to prolong the provision of free meals to all primary school students for an additional school year. He will pledge to provide ongoing assistance with living expenses for London residents as the current crisis is still ongoing.
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, will speak at the conference and reiterate Labour’s dedication to achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Lammy plans to declare that a Labour administration will initiate immediate discussions with foreign leaders to establish a fresh International Contact Group to replace the now-defunct Quartet (consisting of the UN, US, EU, and Russia). This group would work together with Western and Arab allies to address issues regarding peace in the Middle East.
He will state that the pursuit of a Palestinian state is a noble and valid effort. As Keir Starmer has expressed, it is the undeniable entitlement of the Palestinian people and a logical step towards a two-state resolution. This is why a Labour administration will collaborate with global allies to acknowledge the existence of Palestine as a sovereign state.
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In 2024 and beyond, Lammy will present Labour’s perspective on foreign policy and highlight the importance of “progressive realism” in their efforts to rebuild Britain’s global presence amidst the current state of global disorder.
“Our approach to progress will be grounded in a combination of progressivism and realism. We will embrace progressivism by basing our foreign policy on our principles of equality, the rule of law, and internationalism. At the same time, we will maintain a realist perspective by prioritizing tangible and achievable advancements in light of the current state of the world, rather than idealistic aspirations.”
Lammy will caution about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that Europe may be losing focus on the issue. He will directly criticize Vladimir Putin and label him as a leader of a modern type of fascism.
Lammy acknowledges that there is still reason for optimism, despite the slow pace of progress. She highlights the projections that show a decrease in global warming from 3.5 degrees Celsius to 2.4 degrees Celsius since the Paris climate agreement was made in 2016.
Source: theguardian.com
