First Muslim mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is sworn-in

Having won the race for City Hall, Sadiq Khan has been officially sworn-in as London’s new mayor.

Snatching back the post for Labour after eight years in the wilderness, his victory has been hailed by many as a shift in perspective for the British capital, something Khan was keen to emphasize in his speech at Southwark Cathedral.

“I’m determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London has ever seen. And to represent every single community and every single part of our city as mayor for all Londoners,” Khan said.

'London has today chosen hope over fear': New London mayor Sadiq Khan, first Muslim in post https://t.co/yEc8mUzQ2i pic.twitter.com/BWugO0n2U5

— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 7, 2016

Khan’s opponent Zac Goldsmith had come under fire for attempting to link him with extremism. But many others have hailed the election of the first Muslim mayor of London.

“I never imagined that in my lifetime I could have a mayor of London from an ethnic minority background. It is an amazing sign of how far our city has come. London is a city that not only tolerates, but celebrate diversity. A city that has chosen unity over division, and hope over fear,” said Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon.

Khan also paid tribute to his background. Growing up on a council estate before studying law and entering politics, he said he wanted to give all Londoners the opportunities the city had given him and his family.

Euronews