Local elections 2022: Sadiq Khan admits Boris is Labor ‘vote winner’

The Mayor of London said Boris Johnson’s leadership did something to help Labor make key gains in today’s local elections.

The Conservative Party has already suffered a triple blow in the capital this morning – losing Westminster for the first time, its flagship Wandsworth and also Barnet.

Sadiq Khan said he was conflicted as an individual over whether the prime minister should resign.

“Let me be honest – it’s in the interests of the Labor Party that Boris Johnson stays,” he told Sky News.

‘It’s in the national interest that he goes. And I am someone who is a patriot who loves my country.

“It’s time for him to go, as a patriot and as an Englishman and as a Brit – but as a Labor person I want him to stay, he’s a vote-winner for us.”

The new Labor leader of the Wandsworth Council, Simon Hogg, agreed that Boris Johnson was a “liability” for the Tories.

“It wasn’t just Labor voters who said, ‘He lied, he broke his own rules,'” he said.

“If you look at some of the results here in Putney, particularly in Tory areas, you actually see a real dislike for lifelong Tories.

“Not just saying, ‘I’m going to stay home and not voting,’ but actually saying, ‘I’m going to vote for Labor because I want to get Boris Johnson out’.”

The Mayor of London tweeted: “A historic happy night for Labor as Wandsworth City Council turns red for the first time in 44 years.

“This is a fantastic result for Wandsworth residents – who can now look forward to a cleaner, greener and more equal borough under the leadership of Councilor Simon Hogg.”

In a video he tweeted, Mr Khan can be heard saying: “Three words. Wandsworth, Labour, win’ as Labor supporters cheer.

Local Tory leaders have already urged the Prime Minister to step down after this morning’s “embarrassing” string of losses.

Ravi Govindia, outgoing Wandsworth Council leader, said: “Let’s not be shy, of course national issues were part of the dilemma people faced.”

He told the BBC “Other events have inevitably clouded the judgment of the people of Wandsworth” and admits that “the problem of Boris Johnson” was raised during the election campaign.

John Mallinson, chairman of Carlisle City Council who will be replaced by the new Cumberland authority, said: “I think it’s not just Partygate, there’s the integrity issue.

“Basically, I just don’t feel that people don’t have the confidence anymore that the Prime Minister can be trusted to tell the truth.”

A Tory source conceded “we expect this election to be tough”.

The Prime Minister is said to have had a pessimistic outlook for the local elections and the BBC reported that he told aid workers: “We’re going to get our asses kicked tonight.”

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