Sadiq Khan From UK Labour Party Officially Named as London Mayor

Sadiq Khan has been officially named as the new mayor of London.

LONDON (Sputnik) – Sadiq Khan from the UK Labour Party has been officially named as the new mayor of London, becoming the first Muslim to hold the post.

"I promise to always be a mayor for all Londoners for every London regardless of your background," Khan said in the early hours of Saturday, as quoted by The Telegraph.

The election results showed that Khan received 44.2 percent of votes and defeated his main rival Conservative Zac Goldsmith, who won 35 percent.

"This election was not about controversy and London today has chosen hope over fear, unity over division. I hope we will never face that stark choice again," Khan said.

According to The Telegraph, Khan won 1,310,143 votes, while Goldsmith garnered 994,614 votes.

Khan said he will work on giving Londoners the opportunity "not to survive but to thrive," promising better wages, security and a cleaner and healthier city.

Khan, 45, comes from a family of a Pakistani bus driver. Goldsmith’s campaign focused on Khan’s family background, trying to brand the former state minister for transport (also the first Muslim to hold the post, as well as the first Asian) as a supporter of Muslim extremists.

Khan is succeeding the Conservatives’ Boris Johnson; his victory ends eight years of Conservative control of City Hall.

Local elections were held in the United Kingdom on Thursday.

The Labour Party managed to maintain control of key councils in the country, and showed growth in representation in Exeter in South West England. However, Labour fared badly in Scotland, losing 13 seats in the Scottish parliament, while the Conservatives gained 16.