Cllr Tony Devenish represents Knightsbridge and Belgravia Ward on Westminster City Council. He is a former member of the London Assembly.
A recent milestone has been ignored. On May 9th 2016, Sadiq Khan became Mayor of London. After Ken Livingstone (2000-2008) and Boris Johnson (2008-16).
In a decade, he has achieved:
Even independent commentators agree. Tim Donovan, who has covered Sadiq’s time as Mayor for BBC London, wrote in The Times that he “struggled to see (any) legacy.”
There was no big event to acknowledge Khan’s decade in office, he didn’t even attend the 25th anniversary of the London Assembly. His style remains, and this is an understatement, low-key.
Ken Livingstone travelled around London on the tube, talked to anyone and dominated the media pre the Olympics. Ken had the gravitas and clout to stand up to both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Boris has lived his entire life in the media spotlight, cycling around our capital and bathing in the Olympic legacy. Boris often battled with David Cameron and George Osborne. He would accept feedback, shouted (good and bad) from fellow Londoners. Sadiq is like a submarine: more a Z-list equivalent of Gordon Brown or George Osborne. Few see him as an A-list politician. Andy Burnham (Mayor of Manchester and ‘King of the North’) and former Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street and (Lord) Ben Houchen, Teeside Mayor, are widely seen as far more significant national political figures.
But in an age when Prime Ministers are lucky to last two or three years, when we are effectively at war on two continents, the terror threat level is severe, business talk about data centre debt triggering a 2007 crash, and Gen Z can’t get a job or buy or (often) even rent a flat, Sadiq’s decade in office should not be underestimated. The old proverb you upset fewer people by doing less, is Sadiq’s mantra.
Sadiq Khan’s number one skill is to be AWOL (absent without leave) to avoid blame. Many a Home Secretary or Justice Minister must look on enviously when they ‘cop it’ for a jail break, or illegal small boats crossing. Sadiq is rarely featured in a crime wave media story. Despite being London’s Police & Crime Commissioner. A classic example was the recent Finchley terror attack, handled by the Met Police Commissioner and local MP, followed by visits from each of the main Party National Leaders. Sadiq was in Spain.
Boris, as Mayor, was widely castigated for being abroad when riots broke out and had to return (pronto) from the other side of the world. No one expects Sadiq to involve himself in anything. Other than a Twitter spat or two. Be it a record number of tube strikes, a crumbling tube and bus network, or a failure to build any homes. His only policy of note is making it difficult to drive in London by prioritising a cycle network and taxing the car (and white van man) off the road. During Covid, the biggest crisis since the Second World War, Sadiq deftly left it to the then Prime Minister and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Leaders. When a London Assembly Member (me) accused Khan of shirking his duty, Sadiq accused him of belittling his mental health.
Writing as a Tory London Assembly Member, elected comfortably on the same day as Sadiq in 2016, but who had already seen the 50 per cent vote share my predecessor (Kit Malthouse) enjoyed in 2008 squeezed. Following Brexit, Covid, a demographic drift out of London and five Prime Ministers over 14 years’ of Government, Sadiq did have the last laugh, winning his third term as Mayor weeks’ before Rishi Sunak called the 2024 General Election. I lost becoming a ‘former’ London Assembly Member.
From July 2024 Khan has had to raise his game. He can no longer just blame the Tory Government. Though he often still tries to. After a few months of cheer leading for the Labour Government , he has deftly pivoted to a coded , and as time goes on , more overt critical ‘friend’ role. More saddened than angry when Keir makes his twentieth (and counting) u turn or (yet another) gaff. The Khan submarine has literally submerged , ‘down periscope’. Khan’s argument that crime is decreasing is based on his obsession with statistics which are delusional. A feature of his transport policies too. Though it is true that Londoners have all but given up reporting many categories of crimes to the Met Police , because they know nothing is done.
In living memory only the Scottish National Party have been more successful than Khan in winning elections , while avoiding any responsibility for governing. In May 2026 , (as I write) the SNP looks likely to be re-elected for another 5 year term after 19 years’ in Scottish Government. Khan will have only managed a dozen years’ (in 2028). I for one wouldn’t bet on him not having another go if the choice on offer from the Left of Centre parties is between Zac Polanski , the Green Leader and a sitting London Assembly Member or a Labour Party candidate of the stature of Dawn Butler MP.
Finally , my mea culpa …
Politicians , the public believe , should own up when we get it wrong. Though I believe my daily, often hourly criticism of Sadiq Khan (2016-24) was mostly fair and accurate. I also warned both my Party and Labour to take the Greens seriously. It’s all out there on social media. I accept that Londoners did not agree. I was involved in three Mayoral campaigns (Zac, Shaun, Susan) we lost the lot. In 2024, Sadiq was re-elected and I was not.
If I have one piece of advice for CCHQ as we now get on and choose a Conservative candidate for Mayor of London in 2028, it is do it by October 2026 Party Conference season , and use the media well (and often). Kemi Badenoch has cleverly grasped that we are (increasingly) moving into presidential politics. However good our Shadow Cabinet is and I believe it is far better than that enjoyed by either William Hague or David Cameron, the media and the public are only interested in Kemi, Nigel and Zack. Bluntly, that is largely why Labour and the Lib Dems are sinking, neither Starmer nor Davey are box office. More dud office. Neither can communicate. Our Mayoral candidate must be box office. To cut through in the media from day one. We have one chance to create a positive first impression.
PS I never (ever) take my electorate for granted in Knightsbridge and Belgravia: thank you for returning me for a sixth, fourth year term in the early hours of May 8th 2026, as a Westminster City Council ward member. It means the world to me. Kemi appeared outside Westminster City Council within a couple of hours with our team, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride and Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake. She is doing a fantastic job as Leader of the Opposition. Three long years’ to go to the General Election.